, 1861-12-19
THE AMooR RIVER TRADE.

Trade between American ports and the Amoor
River is gradually increasing, and, with this in.
crease of trade, more lively interest is mani.
Testing itself in the development Of the compare
lively unknown resources Of that region. The
San Francisco Herald warmly advocates the os-
tablishment of a line Of steamers between that
port and the Amoor River and states that such
line would be the forerunner Of an immense
commerce with the Russian dominions. Though
San Francisco naugurat,s this trade, Puget
Sound may in time enjoy as large a share Of it
as any Of our Pacific ports, Ito which it will in
the main be contined) and it is therefore q sub.
jet in which We are not without interest.
The following from late number Of the Her.
aid, throws light on the nature and prospects Of
this new trade, as well as Oh its importance to the
United State -
The last number Of HUNTS Merchants ALaga-
sine contains paper on commercial progress in
Eastern Asia, and particularly the regions wa
tered by the AmOor river. From it we learn
that the foreign trade Of the Amoor, though
at present small, is almost monopOliZed by Amer.
leans In 1860 some fifteen foreign slips ell.
tered the river, and nearly all were American
and from the port Of San Francisco. 1t is graft.
flying to note that, since 1856, the first year Of
foreign intercourse, the trade between The United
States and Eastern Asia has been steadily and
rapidly on the increase, and that We are able to
anticipate that within 4 few years some $4,000
600 will be added to the number Of the con.
sumCrs Of our produce and manufactures. The
Emperor Of Russia, who has given frequent ex-
preston to the friendly feelings he entcTtains
for our Government, is doing his utmost TO iacil-
itate American enterprise in this portion Of his
dominions. He has granted special privileges,
guaranteed protection, and is now engaged ia
constructing line Of telegraph from II Peters
burg tn the Pacific Ocean, which will be completed
in three years. The importance Of the Amoor
trade TO the United States cannot be over-esti-
mated. The people Of Eastern Asia are indus.
trious, and readily acquire 4 taste for conmOdi.
ties OF American production, for which they can
exchange hemp, FAX, turpentine, skins, pclts,
hides, tanw, precious stones, wax, ivory, pearls,
aud vast variety Of other articles, both Of an
ornamental and useful character. Il is calcuat d
that they can supply us with $4,000, 900 worth
Of tea and thirty millions Of sheep skins, aud
purchase from us from ten to twenty millions Of
dollars worth Of cloth per aununl. The AmOor is
navigable for steamers two thousand miles ia ex-
tent, and here again is an opening for the Amer.
lean ship-builder
The question may be asked why is il that the
United States and England have not before this
developed field Of enterprise so inviting! The
answer is simple. 1t was only Eve years ago that
the nterdictioO against foreign trade was emoyed
Until that time the people Of Asiatic Russia had
been compelled to depend upon Russia in Eu.
rope for any commodities Of foreign produce or
manufacture they might require. Thus, the field
Of enterprise, though so vast in extent, is en-
tircly new.