Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-05-29
The value of RussIan AmerI.

Ca.
A writer who appears to know of what
he speaks, communicates the following to
the P Trtland Press.
"Whether we have acquired sixty-fve
or only forty-one degrees of longitude. IL
is stn 3 fact that we have gained posses
sion and control Of a coast line extending
through fifteen degrees of latitude, cover
ing many good hsrbors, some valuable
islands, and probably as rich fishing
grounds as the world can furnish; also, a
very large extent Of territory, through
rivers Astounding with salmon, the land
covered with fnetimber, with mountains
full of minerals.
Because the north boundary of this
new territory touches very nearly the
10th parallelof north latitude, and sim
ply because ofthis, writers, entirely igGor<
ing the facts ofeurrents-both oceanic and
-erial-and of elfmate, let off their squibbs
about tTeebergs" and .'cucumbers'' and
perhaps actually persuade themselves into
the belief that Russian America is bat an
other Greenland OF Nova Zembls, where
frost holds high carnival throughout the
year. We advise such persons. before ex-
pecting others. to sssee where the laugh
comes in to their witty Jokes. to post them
selves q little in relation to facts, IS they
may by conversation with any one who
has spent 8 winter in the North Pacific.
It was, We think, on the 2eth of June
that the Shenandoah committed her last
days work of fame and havoc among the
New Bedford whaling feet, and that feet
thus early, had assembled in sight of east
Cape, which rs but three or four degrees
south Of seventh parallel. The sea was
open, the weather was warm, and the feet
was waiting there only for the ice foes of
the Arctic ocean to pass down with the
currents, before penetrating the wastes in
pursuit of whslebone andol.
To our certain personal knowledge, in
Washington territory, say in the latitude
of southern Arooatook, blowing is often
done IN February and March, and oats,
spring wheat, and peas, are sown, ard even
potatoes planted before the first day of
April. The season there is, at least, from
six weeks TO two months earlier than in
tbesame latitude on the Atlantic coast
In the latitude Of forty-six degrees North,
whole winters ct times pass with less now
and ice than are fometimes seen in our
Gulf States, and the same causes which
modify the climate On and near the coast
Of Oregon and Washington, also operate
in full force along the coast of our newly
acquired possessions.
During the entire winter months the
southe-ly winds prevail, and these are
waTm and moist. and are accompanied BY
sgreat deal ofrsin; ice, suitable for har-
vesting as with Us, never forms on that
coast unless on very high latitude, It il
probable that while the latitude is about
the same as that Of Stockholm and st. Pc
tersb1rgh, the climate is not more frigid
or uncomfortable than that of Scotland; so
that, with Its fisheries, its timber, its furs
and its minerals, we should not be sur.
prised If Russian America proved TO be,
eve in q pecGnlsry point of view, one Of
the most proftbble acquisitions, in pro-
portion TO It's cost, that our Government
has made,
But there is valne IN geographical po-
sition sometimes, aside from quality of
soil or its natural productions. To our
mind We confess there is something grand
in holding the key 70 Behring's Straita,
and one end Of the cable that is to bind
the continents of Asia and America to-
gether. There is something indefinitely
grand in the thought that the whole
North Pacific coast, from San Diego in
latitude S2{. 70 the 10th parallel, with the
exception Of 5 degrees and 40 minutes, il
all our own and it viii be still grander
when that paItrv exception shall be no
more an exception. The possession of
Russian America gives US the best known
whaling ground in the North Pacific; ii
gives US q range of cod fisheries rivaIing,
it IL thought by many, those of New
foundland; it gives Us geographical i'm
~portance, and makes US the great landed
proprietor of the New World.
Those who talk Of ieebergs and sneer al
the climate are only repeating in new
form the objections raised against the &C.
QUESTION Of MISUNDERSTANDING all west
of the Mississippi to the boundary on the
south to tbe forty ninth parallelin 1908;
Of Floridsi r 1913, of Texas in 1916, Of
Of California in 1913, and of Arizona al
q still later day. The same objections,
modified TO fit the different e~xIgencies,
viii be met when the acquisition of Brit
Ah Columbia is completed, when Mexico
Is welded to our southwestern border,
when the s.Queen of the Antilles becomes
q gem OF the brow of Columbia, when the
sDomInion of Canada" shall, by her own
free will, be cut up into new States of the
Union, and when the stsr-spangled ban.
ner shall fost in proud triumph over the
last inch of North America.