The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-04
COLUMBIA, April 2.
Acquisition OF Russian America.


treaty with Russia, by which the
latter power cedes to the United
States oil her territories in North
America for $7,OOO,OOO.
The New York Herald, Of Sunday,
making the announcement, says:
Although price is set upon the
territory thus surrendered, it is in
fact merely nominal, the value of the
fisheries and the fur trade alone to
our enterprising people being vastly
in excess of the sum agreed upon as
the purchase money. The treaty is
an evidence of the close and friendly
relations existing between the two
great powers, and evinces the con-
currence of the Russian Government
in the policy which denies to Eu-
ropean monarchies the right to build
up kingdoms and dominions on the
American continent.
With Russian America in our pos
session, it will need but the ahnexa-
ton or absorption of British Column
bia and Vancouver's Island to give
us the whole of tho Pacific coast
North of Mexico rs our own; and in
one way or other this result is certain
to be accomplished. We cannot con-
sent that our territory on the Pacific
shall be broken between Washington
Territory and Russian America, when
the latter is fairly in our possession.
1t will be we'll for England if she is
discreet enough to profit by the
example of Russia, and to withdraw
gracefully from continent where
her institutions are out of place
and where her intrigues can only
bring trouble upon her colonies and
humiliation TO her Government Mt
home.
The acquisition of the now terri
tory is of especial Importance at the
present time, when the trade of the
United States with China and Japan
is being so satisfactorily developed.
The Baltimore .Sm comments as
follows:
The whole area is about $50, 900
square miles, but the strip along the
coast from the 54th to the Goth
degree OF latitude is only from
twenty to sixty miles broad, yet it
cuts out perhaps one-half of the
British territory of Columbia from
the sea, the Russian line extending
some 400 miles, and ceasing nt Port
land Inlet. The greater portion of
the territory lies between the 142d
and 166th degree of Longitude, and
the Goth and list degree of latitude.
Portland Inlet is in about the same
parallel as the most NorthwardIy
portion of Canada. On the North,
Russian America is bounded by
Behring's Straits and the Arctic
Ocean. The population is now esti-
mated Mt about 10000, of which
some 10000 to $4,000 are Indians
and Esquimaux, the remainder being
Russian, Creoles, Kodiaks, &c. The
principal settlement is New Archangel,
said to contain 1000 inhabitants, on
the island of Basanow orSitkn. The
other chief islands are Prince of
Wales, Kodiak, Numvak and st.
Lawrence, forming with numerous
others, the Alcutian Archipelago.
There are also the settlements of
Ou 4NOIIOu OOuult, IOOtt-
waroff on Kvichack River, Fort st.
Nicholas on Alaska River, st.
George Factory on Priblov Island,
and factory on st. Paul Island. \
great portion of the country, how
ever, may bo considered uninhabi-
table, but the Southern and coast
portions of it are considered valuable
for the fur trade and fisheries. 1t
will afford us commercial advantages
upon the Pacific, and strategic
position in q naval sense, which may
be made available for many purposes.
1t will also give lis possession of q
large extent of country through
which the overland telegraph is car
ried.
If this treaty is ratified, rs most
probably it will be, the British au-
thorities will be sandwichcd in British
Columbia, by the possessions of the
United States on the North and on
the South of them. Hence the an
of the negotiation of
this treaty is said to have caused q
lively sensation in Washington. What
may be its ultimate effects on British
power in the extreme Northern
region in question is an interesting
subject for speculation. The thought
naturally suggests itself that it may
lead to further acquisitions there, on
the part of the United States, in
time, through similar peaceful