Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1862-01-11
Ghe polnnesian.
Commercial Progress i'm Eastern A-in.

L.
tOber number of &c Hunts Merchants Magazine.
Up to the close of 1860 we have reliable inform
alton of the following steamers and steamships ell
ther navigating or preparing to navigate the Amoor
and its approaches. America, Manchoor, Japan
ese, sea going, built in the United States two
river steamers, Lena and Amoor, constructed in
Philadelphia, iron, shipped and set up at the
AmOor one on private account, at Boston, and
two at San Francisco. The Russian Government
built two at Shilka, over two thousand two hun
dred miles by the course of the Amoor and Sch-
ka rivers from the sea, and steamed them to the
Straits of Tartary. The Russian Government has
also partly organized force of ten small courier
mail steamers, which are 20 keep up postal and
military communication along the whole course of
the Amoor Shilka and Ingodah rivers, and connect
with the Chinese and Siberian system of overland
communication at lrkOutSk.
The Amoor Company (Russian) have had con-
structed in Europe steamer, sea-going and five
river steamers The Russian American Company
has two sea- going steamers, which visit the AmOor,
where the headquarters of the company for the
Pacific is now located.
In 1856, first year of foreign intercourse, only
two foreign ships entered the Amoor-both Ameri-
can. In 1857. seven merchant ships arrived in
the AmOOr, with cargoes amounting TO 500, 900
silver roubes In 1858 four ships entered with
S05 tons feight for Government, and merchandise
amounting to l74,650 silver rOubles, including
72,444 roubles in value of Russian production. In
1859 thirteen foreign merchant ships arrived at the
Amoor. The total traffic from foreign countries
and from the upper Amoor amounted to l,09O,7l4
silver roubes; at NicOlawsky, from the upper
Amoor 140.ll4 silver roubles, while the total i'm
port and export amounted to l,23O, 500 silver rou-
bles.-[ The silver roube of Russia is equal to IS
cents of our mOney.-ED. MER. GAz.
The port of Nicolvsky has 2, lS3 male and 800
female inhabitants. There were forty-nine Gov
eminent houses and two hundred private residences
besides twenty-seven Government houses uninhab-
tied. There were twenty stores, of which five
were American, making in all two hundred and
eighty-eight houses.
Among the inhabitants were l,5l8 military, of
all grades, with their wives and attaches.
In 1859 there were seven foreign merchants. five
of whom were Americans.
In 1860 the amount of mel chandise received was
greater than the previors year, though the sales,
owing to temporary causes, Sad not been so profit
able. One American house had withdrawn, but
three others had been added. One of the Amoor
COmpany's steamers had ascended the Amoor, but
to what point is not stated.
The number of vessels entered is not stated, but
supposed to be ten to fifteen.
Again, in regard to the commerce to the Amoor
in American bottoms. we can get no returns of
clearances from American ports, because, with but
two three exceptions, vessels intended for the
AmOor have cleared for sports in the Pacific" +"
consequently, the true returns are not to be had.
In the figures given above we have only par
tial statement of the actual value of commerce at
the AmoOr. The great probability is that the
transactions of the Government In the purchase of
machinery, naval stores and provisions, nor the
commerce Of the Russan-American Company, are
included. During 1856 and 1857 fully 700 barges
and RATS descended the AmOor from the Trans
Baiknl province of CASTOR Siberia, freighted with
oHo,J J,,o ,,,I l,-as
The most of them for government account, but the
Russan-American Company and private parties
had some share in the expedition.
The Amoor is formed by the junction of the
Schilka and Argoon, in l2l AZ E. L., and 53 .
80 N L., and after a very tortuous course of 900
miles. falls into the Straits of Tartarv, in about
400 E. L., 53o N. L. The AmoOr Is navigable
for steamers its whole length.
The winter is severe, but not much more so than
Moscow, or in equal degrees of latitude on the
Volga. The natural floral and cultivated produc-
tions of the country indicate good grain fruit and
grass Country being also well adapted to the rear
ing of focks and herds.
The province of Trans -Baikal, Eastern Siberia)
which lies in part upon the head-waters of the
AmoOr, viz the Schilka and Argoon, contains a
population of $40 900, and is the chief source in
Eastern Siberia, from whence the Russian Govern
ment procures its silver the mines rich and ex-
tensive. These mines are however, worked only
by the Government, but 1t is reported that they are
soon to be opened to the public.
The Amoor is free from ice and navigable from
MAY to November, which will compare iavorably
with the navigable season at st. Petersburg.
There is plenty of time and plenty of water, with
properly constructed steamers and barges, or keel
boats to conduct the commerce, during open wa
ter to such points upon its head-waters as conyen-
ience and experience may decide upon where the
overland conveyance will be ready to distribute it
to the remotest points of the interior During the
winter all the return produce of the country will
be concentrated at these depots ready for shipment
to meet the sea-going vessels arriving at tide wa
ter in the Spring, and thus the commerce will be
regularly and conveniently conducted much on the
same plan as at St. Petersburg.
To what extent or how advantageOusly this new
field of Oriental Asiatic commerce is to be Occu-
pied by Americans. depends upon the sagacity and
nerve of our merchants.
At first the commerce to the Amoor will be most
proftably conducted by sailing vessels ; barks Of
two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty
tons burden being, in my opinion, the best fitted
for that trade. SchooneTs of one hundred to one
hundred and fifty tons may also be employed for
srecial voyages to Japan, China or San Francisco.
Vessels should be of good beam, and not more than
ten to twelve feet draft.
Upon the Amoor there should be two classes of
steamers lst, Side-whee, of three hundred tons,
with draft of six feet. These would navigate to
the mouth of the Zea, or about two thirds of the
distance, and may, in the early summer, reach the
head of the AmoOr. I'd, Stern-wheel steamers,
having twenty feet beam, one hundred and thirty
to fifty feet long, with four to four and half feet
hold, and ample power. These steamers would
reach the head of navigation, and place their
cargoes at available points, from whence sledges,
wagons and pack trains would distribute them
throughout the interior of Siberia and Tartary.
Steamers on the AmOor are absolutely necessary
to its commercial development. We cannot look,
at first to the immediate shores Of the river for any
large development of commerce it is to the Siberian
and overland trade from whence we are to reap the
first great results This can only be accomplished
by regular, certain and well-organized system of
steam navigation throughout the whole length of