Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-04-24
OUR NEWLY ACQUIRED RUSSIAN
TERRITORY.

| The Hartford co., Comant brings us
letter ofspecial interest from Rev DR..
| Bushnell in regard to the Russian posses
sions recently coded 10 the United States
After confirming the report that the CHI
mate is much better than its distance
from the equator would lead one to sup
pose, being in fact but little colder than
Scotland, he proceeds to show the pro-
babe route OF commerce between the
Eastern States and Asia:
STARTING from the western point Of
Lake Superior, in northwesterly direc-
tion we strike the Saskatchewan country,
which is the richest and best countr, OF
British Misunderstanding abundance of
bituminous coal, omparatively soft eli
mate, 50 little impeded by SHOWS that a
railroad can easily be kept open the whole
year, surface SO nearly level that it can
be graded without difficulty, and fer
tility of soil scarcely surpassed on the
continent. Pressing still on toward the
northwest, and finding the climate soften,
Us We near the coast, we strike one or two
rivers, certainly one, that cuts the Rocky
Mountain range down to its base, and
opens gate to let us through, and then
DETECTING to the southwest We strike the
coast south of the greet promontory of
Alaska; or, if that is impossible, We go
down the slope of the great river Kwich-
pax, navigable itself for thousand miles
and enter one Of the bays south Of Bhering
Straits.
The advantages Of this route, whether
we strike the coast north of Point Alaska
or south of it, are, first that we encounter
no mountains or mountain passes; second,
that We have midland supplies of coal and
timber; third, that we avoid the immense
mountain SHOWS that will make the Rocky
Mountain roads impossible for at least
SIX months In year, and fourth, that
having a line that is very nearly coinci-
dent with the great circle of the globe,
We can get tae shortest passage to China
and Japan that can be found. If it
should turn out, as 1t appears quite prob
able, that we can reach the coast at the
southwest point OF the territory in ques-
ton, our line of road will be d great deal
shorter than any other, aud will come tC
It's terminus in about the same latitude as
Glasgow, and having the same climate.
The following is the substance Of the
) information derived from Prof Baird, of
the Smithsonian institute, with regard
to Russian America:
Means Of Intornation-The Professor
has had two explorers in that field between
one and two years, who returned las,
autumn bringing complete collection O.
specimens OF natural history from the en-.
tire region, extending from the BIZ tlst
Possessions to the shores Ut the Polar Sea
The climate and temperature of The
coast from Prince Of " ales' Island to thS
entrance Of Behring Straits, during the
winter months, is about the same as a
the city Of Washington. There is little
snow and much rain. During the sum
mer months heavy fogs prevail.
1Gm6er.-The whole country we'll uf
to the northern coast, is heavily timbere,
chiefly hard pine torests--tne small
trees extending down to the very shores
Some Of the islands, also, are heavily tim
beIeI with dense underground Other
OF them are destitute of timber out cover
t ed with grass of iuxurlant growth.
s The Sotz--On the west coast the sol
produces excellent barley, and roots suel
as radishes and turnips, and escuIent
such as lettuce, cabbage, etc.
r Ahamals. -Eurred animals, such as Sc
otter, river otter, sable, urred seal, min k
black, silver and red foxes, are found il
great number; red deer on the south, an,
; rein, on the north.
D FtAh.-Herring, salmon, halibut an
Goldfish abound in exhaustless numbers
In Bhering Straits and to the northwar'
great whales are very numerous.
-Inerals.-Surface washings Of gol
4 have been discovered on the headwater
e of streams on the east side of the coas
range of mountains. The geographical
Developments are the same on the west
ern slopes. Native copper has been dis
: ccyered in various places on The coast AM
in the vicinity Of Copper river. Iron Or
OF excellent quality (and believed to exis
u exhaustless quantity is now bein:
) smeted and worked by Russian artisan
il repairing ships. etc. Coal is found il
] large quantities and is used by the Rus
SLAMS for naval purposes. In quality it i
similar to new Brunswick coal, but no
equal to Cumberland coal. Recent dis
coVeries have been made of what is be
lieved to be a better quality Of coal
though 1t has not yet been tested.
4 FACT NOT GENERALLY KNOWN
/ The origin Of the portrait for che Goddess
Of I. hnrtu unnn orr cons L. nf ,rra y II,