The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-06-24
BALTIMORE.
THURSDAY, JUNE "a, 1858. {,

Towards the close of the year 1856, Mr.. 7. NC
COLLINS, an accredited commercial agent OF lhe |
UNITED STATES set out from Moscow with the per- |
mission of the Russian Government, on an over
land Journey TO the AMOR River. The distance |
10 he traversed from the point of departure, to IT.
koutsk the capital of Eastern Siberia, was 5l3S |
versts or 1926 miles. This was accomplished, by |
the system of posting established by the govern
ment, in about thirty days. From Irkoutsk Mr.. Nc
Collins. after crossing Lake Baikal the ice, pro-
cccded TO Kachta and Maimattschin, which are sit
uaed at a distance of rifle shot from each other,
in a narrow valley fanked by mountains. They
are the frontier towns of Russia, and China, re-
spectively; are the principal depots of the trade
carried on between the two Empires, and are dis
tant from Chetah on the Amoor river some ninety
two miles From Chetah, to Nicolaivsly at the
mouth of the Amoor, a distance Of twenty-siX
hundred and fifty miles, there are, in the opinion
of Mr.. McCoLLINs, no serious impediments to the
navigation of the river by steamboats, of suitable
draft. Mr.. MCCoLLINs found throughout Siberia,
Manchoora, and Mongolia, not only an abundance
of the necessarcs of life, but also ample supplies of
merchandise both foreign and domestic, and he en-
tiers into n comparison to show the commercial ad-
vantages possessed by our Pacific States over Russia
herself in competing for the lucrative trade of those
remote yet populous regions. He regards Nco-
laivsky, from its proximity TO the of Ochosk,
and from its situation at the mouth of Amoor river,
as the port at which ''thc whole trade of the sea
coast of Siberia, with the incidental trade of Kam
schatka, America, China, and Japan, is destined to
concentrate But assuming that Kiacha will re-
main for some years yet to come the principal seat
of commerce for Russian Siberia, and Chinese
Mongolia, Mr.. McCoILINs remarks, that the COM
modities sent from st. Petersburg, or Moscow, to
these distant provinces, must be transported, either
wholly by overland conveyance, occupying all OF
six MONTHS or partly by land and partly by wafer,
which is a cheaper, though y much slower mode of
conveyance, occupying two years of time, and cost
ing at the lowest rate of charge from $3.50 to 1924
per ton On the other hand, he estimates the dis
lance from San Francisco to the Amoor river, at
forty days time, and the expense at $40 per ton
and from thence to Chetah, the head ofnavigation,
at twenty days time, and $50 per Ton expense, show
ing saving of sixteen months in time and from
$3.50 to STA per ton in expense. 1t thus appears
from the report of Mr.. MCCoLLINs that there is an
uninterrupted ocean and river navigation for steam
of Chetah on the head waters of the Amoor river
while from Chetah to Kiachta, where q regular
trade with China has been established by treaty
stipulaons since 1921 the distance over land
is but ninety-two miles. 1t is noted moreover
that Maimattschin, the Chinese emporium, occupies
the valley, and is distantl less than a mile from
that portion of the Town of Kiachta, where the Rus
sian merchants reside. Among the commodities ex-
changed between these two neighboriug places;
those on the part Of the Russians, furS of the
sable, black fox, and ermine hides wooden cloth
and other coarse wooden fabrics; glassware and
looking glasses; iron, cast and wrought; steel,
guns, swords, leather, besides many other articles
not enumerated, but which are principally of for
eign manufacture. They receive from the Chinese
in return, manufactured silks and cottons; lacquer
ed ware, China ware rhubarb, musk, tea, sugar
and rice; but the principal commodity taken in
exchange is tea. Mr.. McCoLLINs expresses the
opinion that American cotton goods tobacco, ma
chinery, arms &C., would here find ready sale,
and profitable market Nor is it TO be questioned,
that the liberal spirit with which the Russian
government has been actuatcd, with respect to the
commerce of Eastern Siberia, by ordering that nc
charge whatever shall he made upon foreign good,
entering the Amoor river until after the close o
the year 1861, will have the effect of attracting
commercial enterprise towards that quarter Of tho
globe, inasmuch rs the Empire of Japan lies in
close proximity to the sea of Ochotsk while the
rich spice islands of the Indian Archipelago also
lie within a few days easy sail by steam. With us,
the Pacific trade is yet in its infancy; but that II
is destined before long to become of great impor-
lance, no one can doubt who is aware of the
many opportunities it offers to the adventurous,
and Of the large profits that may be derived from
mixed cargoes judiciously selected, and costing al
home but a comparatively moderate sum.