The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-04-12

RUSSIAN AMrMcA.-A paper wus read
before the Literary and Historical Society
Of Quebec in 1855, in regard this por
ton Of country which has now become the
property Of tho United Stntes, from which
We make extracts which will be pcrnsc'l
with eager interest by all our readers since
/, has become the property of the E. Plu'
ribus Unum. ut contains" says Mr.
Roche, "muny mountain ranges Of great
hight. nagnifcently watercd and ierilizcd
by large lakes and rivers; the mountain
nngcs in the upper and broader portion Of
the territory having transverse direction,
ana therefore sheltcring the valleys from
nor,herly winds, which in that quarter arc
cold winds in summer, while, extraor'lina.
~ Us !, may appear to many, in the winter
they invariably cause a rise in The Their.
mometer. A great portion Of This vast re.
zion lin some places to within short dis.
lance of the Arctic Circle) Is covered with
forests Of the largest and most valuable
trees"
The humidity Of tho atmosphere gives
astonishing vigor to the vegetation, but nj.
though the forest, nourished by very
moist atmosphere and comparatively high
mean temperature, Is equal to that OF the
richest woodlands Of tho Northern United,
States,yet corn docs not ripen there. In the
interior, the Hudson's Bay Company cult.
vate cereals as far north rs GO degrees,
though they cannot he cultivated on the
coast. The harbor OF SiIka, as well Us
severnl other fine harbors in the neighbor.
hood. are open during the whole winter
The mean annual temperature Of Siika is
only four degrees lower than that Of Lon.
don. The country is remarkably well wa.
tered. The river COlville is two miles
wide ut its mouth in the Arctic Sea, and is
upward Of 1000 miles in length. The
Stikine, where il enters the Pacific, IL three
miles wide, and the Yukton or Kuichpach
is one mile and quarter wide about one
thousand miles from its mouth. In a'ldi-
ton TO these rivers, Mr.. Roche says the
country "con,ains many large lakes com.
municating with the former, and is indcnt
cd with deep aud spacious harbors and
arms Of the sea. Cooks Inlet runs up.
ward Of two hundred miles into the land.
These lakes and rivers are important fea.
lures Of the country; they tend to moder.
ate the climate and enrich the soil upon
their banks" But largo portion Of this
vast region remains TO oe explored. OF
the mineral resources Of the country Mr.
Roche remarks:
"Russiau America possesses In It's minerals
and ores far greater riches than Its furs or
fisheries, or even Its forests, can be made to
yield, the turning to account OF which would
give life to the whole region and tend to raise
up villages and towns rs prosperous ~ those
which have sprung into existence IN the far
mere inhospitable districts OF Siberia. Coal
and copper have heen found along the Mack
enle; and the writer has little doubt. from the
comparisons which he has made between the
geological features Of the two countries, that
the whole rrcion Is ~ rich In other minerals
and ores as Siberis; that upon proper ex-
ploration. gold will be found In It's rivers and
valleys, and platinum, lead, silver, diamonds,
and all the precious stones 0f Siberia In its
mountains. Several valuable minerals, sach
a. hne jasper. porcelain clay, semi-opsl.
plumbago, gypsum, various colored ochres,
amber, sulphur. petroleum, galena, porphyry,
varegated marble. and also iron ore, has been
discovered In many parts Of the country"