Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1858-09-25
ing. But the great problem as to it's navigability

zng But the great problem as to its navigability
is fully solved:
Mr.. Collins states, without hesitation that steam
ers can ascend from the sea to Chetah, distance
of 260O miles, which great fact opens up Siberia
to our Pacific commerce through the Amoor. This
fact, hitherto unknown and not even guessed at
presents q new field for commerce, the ultimate
limits of which can hardly be grasped by the most
comprehensive mind.
Nangolia, ManehOoria, Northern China, all the
Tartaries, Thibet and Siberia, with population of
twenty or thirty millions, are approached by this
river, and a new route to the Indies opened.
The discovery Of the northwestern passage sinks
into utter nothingness in comparison with the
utility and practicability of this route.
One most astonishing fact is elicted, which is,
that Irkoutsk the capital of Eastern Siberia, can
be approached with only about three hundred miles
of land carriage.
Mr.. Collins is the first foreigner that has ever
descended the AmoOr, the second American that
has ever crossed the Ural Mountains and the first
that has crossed the mountains dividing the waters
of the Pacific from those of the Frozen Ocean.
He speaks in the highest terms Of the Russian
officers and people upon his long journey, having
been treated with kindness and hospitality.
At Kyachta, where he was invited to public
dinner, the health of President Buchanan was Civ
en- a regular toast, which was drunk standing,
with all the honors.
Mr. Buchanan is very popular in Russia, and
his election was hailed with delight throughout
the empire. As he was also our Minister at st.
Petersburg, and negotiated the last commercial
treaty between the two countries, he is known to
many personally.
By the way of Hakodadi, Japan, up through
the sea of Japan to the Straits of Tartary and into
the mouth of the Amoor, the navigation presents
no unusual difhculties steam is wanted at the
Amoor to tow vessels to and from sea, the same as
at the mouth of the Mississippi.
Vessels approaching the Amoor will stop at De
Castries for a pilot, where they can also get wood
and water, and the supercargO or captain can pro-
ceed by way Keezey, making small portage into
the Amoor. and thus anticipate his vessel at the
mouth of the river.
That vast and valuable extent of country lying
along the AmOor, and more than that the naviga-
ton of that river from the to the interior prov
inces of Siberia through which she has approach
to the Pacific, is of itself sufficient argument for
the acquisition of Russia. But aside from this,
the Amoor for ages in the hands Of the Tartars or
Chinese-whO, like the dog in the manger, will
neither use it themselves nor let any other nation
use it -justifes Russia now in Its acquisition,
we were in the acquisition of the Mississippi, by
Jefferson-peacibly if We could, fOrcibly if we
must.
The whole Amoor basin is as necessary to Rus
sia in the development Of that country, and to her
quiet intercourse into the heart Of Siberia the
Mississippi valley was to US in 1903.
1t is not only most desirable to Russia, but
equally so to progress and civilization, for with
the possession of this river the Tartar power will
be completely hemmed In and approachable on all
sides
Since Major Collins visit to Irkoutsk and the
Amoor, a company called the % Company of the
Amoor," has been organised in St. Petersburg, and
received the sanction of the Emperor, with capi-
of four millions of francs to be increased to twelve
millions, for the purpose of encouraging and de-
veloping the commercial and industrial activity of
the valley of the AmOOr, to open trade through
the Pacific ports with foreign countries, to trade
with the Indians, to build and maintain steamers
and sailing vessels establish factories, magazines,
etc.
This shows at once the waking up of Russia to
the importance of the remuneration of the AmoOr.
1t must be remembered that Russia once held the
Amoor, and only suspended her claims there in
the face of great difficulties, to be renewed at
more propitious season. This time has now
arrived, and she is pushing to the task with vgor.
And to what power but Russia does the world owe
the successful beating back of the Great Moguls
who devastated Europe for centuries with fire and
swordl Take the vast extent of country over
which Russia now holds sway, and it is one of the
most remarkable In history; in control pre-emi-
nent, in extent far surprising that OF Rome IN her
palmiest days. Russia alone has been able to con-
trOl Jne ldTldT race, anu has "HIpPeu them IhtO
something like civilization, and from marauding
hordes trained them to the plough and loom. 1t
is to Russia alone that civilization owes the fact
that YOU can now travel from St. Petersburg to
Kamschatka quite secure as in any other portion
of the globe, and needing, perhaps less precaution
than over the extent of territory on any 9TH
er part of the earth's surface.
After leaving the Amoor in the fall of 1857 Mr..
Collins visited Japan, Kamschatka, and the Sand
wich Islands, and returned to Washington by way
San Francisco, California.-Morning Chronicle,
Apr. 26, 1858.