The Portland daily press., 1867-04-24
Sunshine from Iceberus.

MR.. EDIToR:-I notice in this mornings
Press the statement that by the annexation of
Russian America the United States have gain
ed hours and SO minutes of sunlight The
late MI Gulliver, in the course of his remark
able travels, met with some gentlemen who
were devoted to the cheerful pursuit OF extract
ing sunbeams from cucumbers, and it is not
wonderful perhaps that other philosophers
should try the same experiment on our newly
purchased lcebergs, which are certainly as cool
as cucumbers. But think you you are mis-
taken IN the amount OF sunshine gained by the
purchase. The western coast of Oregon is 125
degrees west of Greenwich; Cape Romanzoff
in the late Russian Possessions Is 165 degrees
west of Greenwich. The difference in .onpi-
tude is only 40 degrees, and as Is degrees make
difference OF an nour il time, the actual gain
in sunshine is only hours and 40 minutes
At ~ 100000 tor the lot this would be only $45.
0O0 minute, in gold. LUCIFRR
April %.
"Lucifer," evidently, is not accustomed to
cold climate. His favorite realm is in a far
more tropical atmosphere, where the fires, it
is said, are not 'raked up nights" The item
in relation to the increased sunlight which the
newly acquired territory gives us, in which
"Lucifer's" keen eye has So readily discovered
an error, was clipped from the New York Eue-
ming Gazette, and put among the brief para
graphs without thought as to its correctness.
But coming to the serious view of the ques-
ton, with all Difference to "Lucifer's" critical
geographical knowledge, and giving full credit
for all the wit displayed in the above, we are
constrained to believe he has allowed his pref
udice to cloud his judgment and that in oppos-
ing the acquisition of Russian territory with
mere ridicule, and ridicule based on error, he
is not doing work in which he will take much
pride when he comes to view 1t retrospective
ly. Whether we have acquired sixty-f or
only forty-one degrees of longitude, 1t is still
fact that we have gained possession and control
of coast line extending through fifteen de-
grees OF latitude, covering many good harbors,
some valuable islands, and probably as rich
fishing grounds as the world can furnish, also
very large extent of territory, through which
immense navigable rivers flow, the riveis
abounding with salmon, the land covered with
fine timber, with mountains full of minerals
Because the north boundary Of this new rte
ritory touches very nearly the 10th parallel oi
North latitude, and simply because of this,
writers, entirely ignoring the facts of currents
both oceanic and arial-snd of climate, let
of their squibs about "icebeTgs" and "cucum-
bers," and perhaps actually persuade them
selves into the belief that Russian America is
but another Greenland or Nova Zembla, where
frost holds high carnival throughout the year
We advise such persons, before expecting 9TH
ers to "see where the laugh comes in" 10 their
witty jokes, TO post themselves little In rela-
tion TO facts, as they may by conversation with
any one who has spent winter In the North
Pacific.
1t was, we think, on the 18th of June that
the shenandoah committed its last days's work
OF flame and havoc among the New Bedford
whaling fleet, and that fleet, thus early had as
sembled in sight of East Cape, which Is but
three or four degrees south of the 10th parallel
The sea was open, the weather was wsrm' ana
the fleet was waiting there only fer tne Ice
foes of the Arctic ocean to pass down win the
currents, before penetrating its wastes in pur-
suit of whalebone and OIL.
10 our certain personal knowledge, in Wash
,x,-.o,, territory, say in the latitude of south
orn Aroostook, plowing is often done in Feb
ruarv and March, and oats, spring wheat and
meas are sown, and even potatoes planted be-
fore the first day of April. The season there
is at least from six weeks to two months earlier
than in the same latitude on the Atlantic coast.
In the latitude of 46 degrees North whole win
tiers sometimes pass with less snow and ice
than are sometimes seen in our Gulf States,
and the same causes which modify the climate
on and near the coast of Oregon and WASHING
ton, also operate in full force along the coast of
our newly-acquired possessions. During the
entire winter months the southerly winds pre-
vail, and these are warm and moist, and are
accompanied by great deal of rain; ice, suit
able for harvesting as with us, never forms on
that coast unless in very high latitude. 1t is
probable that while the latitude OF the central
portion of Russian America is about the same
as that of Stockholm and st. Petersburg, the
climate is not more frigid or uncomfortable
than that of Scotland; so that, with its fisher.