Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-09-17
From the New York Journal Of Commerce.

The Amoor River and the Pacific Coast.
The friendship of Russia for whatever pertains to the
United States has been indicated in divers ways during
the last few years. and the course ofempre constant
" tends to bring the two governments into closer rea
tionship Russia is pushing to the eastward and will
not rest satisfied until she acquires the Chinese province
of Manchoora and obtains complete control of the great
Amoor river which ntersecs it, and connects the coast
with the distant regions of the interior draining
sufficient for empire Citizens of the United States
on the other hand, occupying the Pacific coast on
line nearly due East and brought into neighborhood
with Russian America. Should therefore, the AMOR
country become opened to an extensive trade San Fran
cisco would naturally form the depot to which it would
| be principally directed General Mouravief, the Cover
nor of Eastern Siberia within whose jurisdiction the
Amoor river is il cuded is specially interested in the
development of its natural resources and is favorable to
the extension to Americans OF every encouragement
entering this new field
! Mr.. p. Med. Collins, who spent the larger part of
the last two years the AMOR river and its trbuta
res commercial agent of the United States, visited
that country with particular reference to developing its
trade and while enjoying the facilities offered for the
prosecution of his objects, obtained much valuable in
formation which is embodied in correspondence present
ed to the last Congress. We quote the following
That the waters of Lake Baikal can be connected
with the AMOR think there is no doubt, and thus
open the very heart of Siberia to Pacific commerce
This one thing | have specially in view. My idea is
that railroad of few hundred miles will connect the
two systems OF waters and give continuous line OF COM
municaon between the waters of the Pacific and the
icy ocean. This with few steamers On Lake Balkal
the Jenisea, the Lena, the Oby, the AMOR, and their
tributaries would advance the trade and of
those countries thousand fold in ten years. and realize
more to and civilization than the discovery OF
the Northwest passage to India
In speaking of the country visited, Mr. Collins des
crbes at length the richness of the interior traffic. the
productiveness of the mines of god &c The yield OF
the precious metals in Siberia set down at $l5000
900 per annum. This commerce Mr.. Collins predicts
will at future day deeply concern the people of the
United States: and to it must be added that of Man
chooria, Mongolia and Northern China, of which we
know comparatively nothing. Cotton fabrics, for exam
pe might be introduced to the amount OF several mil
lions annually.
Chetah at the head of navigation on the AMOR is a.
bout 2667 miles from the ocean. This whole distance
is pronounced navgabe for steamers and free of ice six
months in the yearfrom the middle of May to the mid
die of November. Chetah, Mr. Collins says is "the
halfway house from St. Petersburgh to San Francisco
Boats can aso by the Chief Southern tributary of the
Amoor penetrate to within few hundred miles Of Pc
kin and the latter point connected with the river
by railway it would be within ten days of the sea- or
twenty-five to San Francisco by steam. The Immense
trade concentrating at Novgorod, Moscow and ST. Pc
tersburg might be equally accessible" opening up
country the natural resources and wealth of which have
hitherto been quite unknown to American enterprise.
positions for railroads already under considera
ton by the Russian government and in view of the
prospective Importance of the AMOR, poststaons
being arranged which will provide regular communca
ton between St Petersburg and the mouth of the river
at all seasons of the year.
Hakodadi (Japan) is convenient stopping place on
the way to the AMOR, and will, it is anticipated be
come resort for whalers and an important seaport
when the extent of the China trade shall justify the
ployment of steamers from San Francisco The islanC
of Sackhahlin directly opposite the AMOR, contains
coal of excellent quality in cxhausess quantities, anC
easy of access With such facilities trade is springine
up and four commercial houses have already been es
tablshed by merchants in San Francisco and Boston
Furthermore the Russian government has recently is
sued ordinance for the formation of the Society
the Amoor," the object of which is to promote anC
develop commercial and industrial activity in the basin
of the AMOR" and free trade has been granted on TIT
, coast.
AS described by the U. S. commercial agent, the fu
ture of the Amoor is invested with all the attractions
, romance; but it may have basis much more sub
stantial.