The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-04-12
Our New Territory Description of the
Observation-Disclosures Possessions.


AS there will naturally be felt desire on
the part of the public to know something of
the extent and value of the possessions which
our Government have been treating for, we
subjoin the following description of them,
taken from the revised edition of Lippin-
colts Gazetteer of the World, published il,
1866: 9e
Russian America. according to the treat
les of the United States and Great Britain,
in 1924 5, comprehends all the American
coast of the Pacific and the adjacent islands
north of the parallel of fifty degrees forty
minutes north latitude, and the Whole of the
main land west of the meridian of one hum
dred and forty-one degrees west longitude,
which passes through Mount st. Elias. 1t
is bounded north by the Arctic ocean, east
by British America, south by the Pacific
and west by the Pacific and Arctic oceans
aud Behring's Straits, which separate it
from the Russian possessions in Asia, the
distance across from Cape Prince of Wales
to East Cape being only Thirty six miles.
With the exception of the narrow strip ex-
tending in a southeast direction along the
coast nearly 400 miles, and the remarkable
peninsula Of Alaska, it forms tolerably
compact mass, with an average length and
breadth of about 600 miles EACH Its great
est length north and south, from the south
ern extremity of Alaska to Point Barrow.
is about LOO miles greatest breadth
measured on the Arctic Circle, which passes
through Cape Prince of Wales, is about
500 miles; the longest line that can De
drawn across the country is from Cape
Prince OF Wales to its southern extremity,
latitude fifty four degrees forty minutes, a
distance of about 900 miles. Estimated
area, 1894 600 square miles The part Of the
mainland south of Mount St Elias consists
of narrow belt, which is continued along a
mountain ridge parallel to the coast, and
has nowhere a greater width than about
thirty-three miles. The interior Of the
country is very little known; but from
several expeditions, it appears that
throughout its west part it is elevated and
uneven, while the part extending along the
Arctic Ocean is invariably fat, with the
exception of small portion lying between
al degrees and 1872 degrees west longitude.
The coasts of the mainland and the islands
have almost all been carefully explored.
of the present century.
CapC. SOOh, III 1 40, uuIluS lis ldSO WY
age, reached Icy Cape, latitute seventy
degrees twenty minutes north, and one
hundred and sixty-one degrees forty min
utes west; and it was supposed from the
large masses of ice there met witf,- even la
summer, that further progress was lmpOs-
sibie. In 1926, however, Capt Beechy
proceeded east as far as North Cape, or
Point Barrow, latitude seventy one degrees
twenty three minutes thlrty-one seconds
north, longitude one hundred and fifty-six
degrees twenty-one minutes thlrty-two
seconds west while at the same time the
lamented Sir John Franklin, then Capt.
Franklin, traced the coast west from the
mouth of the Mackenzie to Return Reef,
latitude seventy degrees twenty six minutes
north, longitude one hundred and forty-five
degrees fifty minutes west. The interve-
ming space between Point Barrow and Re-
turn Reef was first explored in 1887, by
Dease and Simpson, officers of the Hud-
sons Bay Company
The whole Of the north coast of Russian
America, from Demarkation Point West,
to Point Barrow, its northermost extremity,
stretches with tolerabIe regularity in a west
northwest direction, aud is. with the excep
ton OF small part in the east, a dead Hat,
often nearly on level with the sea, and
never more than from ten to twenty feet
above it. From Point Barrow the coast
takes uniform direction, from northeast
to south west, rising gradually towards
Cape Llsburn, which is $50 feet high. It
here turns south, forming, between the two
large inlets of Cotzebue Sound and Norton
Sound, the remarkable peninsula of Prince
Of Wales, which projects into BehrlDg' S
Strait, and terminates In an elevated prom
ontory. forming the most western point OF
North America. From Norton Sound it
turns first southwest, then south southeast,
becoming indented by several large bays,
including those Of Bristol Bay and Cook $
Inlet, on the opposite side of the long aud
narrow peninsula of Alaska; and Is lined
almost throughout by several groups of
large islands. of which the most important
belong TO the Aleulian, Kudiak, and King
George Ill. Archipelagos. The greater
part Of the coast last described is very bold,
presenting succession Of lofty volcanic
peaks, two of which, on the west coast of
Cook Inlet, have the respective heights
of II, go feet and II 600 feet. The climate
of Russian America is not so cold as either
the east parts of the same continent or the
east part of the continent Of Asia, under
the same latitude 1t is, however, far too
rigorous to admit of agricultural operations;
and the whole value OF the territory is de-
rived from the products of its fisheries or of
the chase. The latter have been placed
under rigid monopoly by the Rus: ian
government, which has conferred the sole
privilege Of trafficking in them on the Rus
sian. American Company. This has led to
remonstrances on the part both of the Uni
ted States and Great Britain which have
been so far successful that lease has been
granted to the Hudson Bay Company.
granting them the exclusive possession of
the mainland of Russian America, from
fifty degrees forty minutes north, to Cape
Spencer, in latitude fifty eight degrees
thirteen minutes north, and the exclusive
privilege of supplying the Russians with
AGRICULTURAL produce and provisions.
The principal settlement is New Archan-
gel, small town with 1000 inhabitants on
the Island of Sitka, the largest of the group
George Ill, which is called Baranoy by
the Russians, and was named George III.
by Vancouver. 1t is the seat of the Gov
ernor of all the establishments of Russian
America, and has Notifications, magazines,
and Governor residence. all built of
wood. The ordinary squadron stationed on
Its coasts consists of two frigates and two
corvettes. The Russian-American Com
pany, incorporated 1899, for fishing and