Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-05-24

hat they can be of little value. The aver
age temperature is said to be ten to twelve
degrees warmer than on this side of the
continent. Valuable mines are vaguely
reported, but little Is known OF them.
Generally the region is rugged as well as
cold, and there seems little probability
that much of its soil will ever be cultivated.
The fact that the Russians sojourning on
this coast were long ago accustomed to
grow their grain in California, one thousand
miles away, IL significant. In fish and fur
bearing animals the country is hardly sur
passed. The following article. translated
from the Cologne Gazette, probably gives
as intelligent and dispaSsionate an account
of the territory as can now be presented.
If the cession of the whole of Russian
America to the United States is ratified, it
will be II very important item; not because
the acquisition Of large tract OF land
by the United States promises an increase
Of power; for territorial extension is not de
sirable, and Russian America is no para
disc; vet il may prove an FL Dorado in furs,
and its situation on the southwest coast OF
the Continent will be of great significance.
The territory is 1900 (Gcrman) square
miles in area. lying on the northwest slope
of the Rocky Mountains; has many snow
peaks and volcanoes and is densely wooded
in the valleys, and on the rivers and inlets
OF the coast range. The coast has many
harbors shut in by the Prince of Wales
and George the Thirds Archipelagocs.
The Kossack Dechenes first discovered
Behring's Straits, which were explored
by Behring eighty years aflerward, and
received his name The volcanoes are
generally very high, and streams are abund-
ant, though unemployed. The climate is
very diversified, and much milder than
between the same parallels on the eastern
coast Of America or Eastern Asia. The
coast as far as the peninsula of Alaska,
has mild winters and cool summers, with
abundant rains, very favorable to vegeta-
ton; but fruit trees do not prosper. There
are scarcely 700 Russians among the
10000 inhabitants, just one to hundred;
800 are half breeds of Russians and
Indians. Only fifteen thousand Indians
are civilized, AMI the rest are scattered
over he vast region. Esquimaux inhabit
the eastern half of Ahaaks, and there are
about $500 Aloots in the eastern portion;
they also inhabit the islands of their name
The seat OF government of the country is
New Archangel, containing 2,200 inhabit
ants Twenty-Five years ago, ii had not a
population Of more than $50 souls The
timber and furs of the country became very
useful when the Russians settled on the
Amoor: up to that time it was more ola bur
den than blessing. This purchase annexes
the middle portion, on the west ofthe British
auriferbus regions, that England has long
regarded with covetous eve. This north
western coast of America is out of the
regular course OF commerce. This will
now change; and the year 1867 will be the
beginning of new era for it.
About the middle of January, the Colora-
do arrived at Shanghai from San Francisco
to open regular trade across the Pacific,
and the steamer Great Republic, of 1000
tuns, is soon to follow. The telegraph
company reports the line already laid as
far as New Westminster, the capital oil
British Columbia
Steamships and telegraph lines viii unite
those distant regions to the civilized world
and give them new life; and lands that were
once called desert wastes will become mines
of untold wealth to perseyering and in
dustrious race Of people. But the greatest
good of this treaty-far more important
than the acquisition of territory-is the
winning of = cordial good understanding
between the two enlightened nations ofthe
Northern Hemisphere. These friendly re-
lations between Petersburg and Washington
take place at the very time when Napoleon
hoping for dissolution of the American
Union, is specializing upon the establish
ment of a throne in the Western World.
The French, therefore have hated To see
this friendly feeling increase, and they say
in contempt: Russia is to be well com
pensated for this loss" What compensation
can the United States afford? They have NO
possessions in the Old World; but they have
abundant means, quite enough TO make an
offensive aud defensive alliance. and such
trifies, of immense Importance to the Gar
Now that Russia is casting a longing glance
on Western Asia, her sovereign is conscious
of the Importance of a friendly union with
mighty naval power on the Western
Continent.
For these reasons the negotiations in
Washington are watched with great anxi-
ETY. by France and England.
As Prussia has a good understanding
with the United States, as well as Russia
has, this entente eordiaie between Washing
ton and Petersburg, in case of war in
| Europe may be more beneficial than det-
rimental to the cause of Germany.
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