Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-05
Russian America--Iss Geography
auti ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS as a

Russian Americsa--Hss Geography
and ResOurces-HmPS- as %
Possession.
@ The cession of Russian America to the
United States will be considered by all as
q most Important accession to our terrific
rial possessions. As, however, in the study
of our own States, and their geography,
North as New Archangel, few words on
the position, extent, value, &C.. OF this
newly acquired territory, will not be amiss.
THE BIOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
Russian America comprises that portion
of the American continent lying north OF
1 1atitute "a degrees 40 minutes north, and
west of longitude 141 degrees west, with
islands adjacent, together with narrow
: belt of rocky coast aud a number of islands
living between latitude 54.40 and 60 north.
The area of the entire is estimated at 81 1915
square miles. The surface along the coast
is rude and very mountainous. Several of
the peaks attain an altitude of 10000 to
$4,000 feet. Many of them, too, are vol
canic. Northward Ofthe sixteenth parallel
of latitude the mainland takes the form of
q vast peninsula, extending in west
northwest direction towards the Asiatic
continent. The interior OF the district has
been but imperfectly explored, and little
reliable is knowl about it. The country
Is bristiing W ith mountains. About 200, or
AOU llll6S UdEA AOLl1 bdCzCOdSU olCAO 10 q
long range, continuation of the Sierra
Nevada, and another range extends from
Cape Lisburne, above Behring's Straits
In the southern part there are extensive
sounds or friths lying between the islands
and the coast, and naVigable for large YES
sells to . aconsiderable distance In the inte-
Tior. OF rivers there are four the kuSkO-
rkoim and Kulkhoap, flowing both into the
Kamtchatka Sea; the Colyille, which flows
into the Arctic Ocean, and the Yukon,
which, with several affiuents, empties it
self into Behring's Straits. OF the islands,
which are numerous, the principal are!
those forming the Aleutian Archipelago
OF these, the most important are Prince of
Wales Island, BaranOv, or Sitka, Kodiak,
Univak, Nuniak and st. Lawrence.
ITS POPULATION, PRODUCTIONS, ETC.
It's population is estimated yariously at
from $1,000 to 75,000. There are lite
over 10000 whites, partly of Russian or
Siberian descent, and from 10000 to $4,000
Indians. The climate of the greater part
of the country is intensely cold and the soil
sterile. This does not refer to the entire
country, for in the south the valleys are
said to be productive. Most of the vegeta-
Ntion is of an Alpine character, though pines
attain great elevation on the low hills,
and the fir and alder are to be met with
abundantly. The country is mainly valu-
able for its extensive fisheries and furs.
The latter trade has been up to the present
controlled by the Russian American Fur
Company, which was granted the land from
the Emperor Paul in 1899. The COmpany's
charter was renewed in 1889, at whit time
it had SO hunting and fishing stations. The
annual export is estimated at 10000 seal.
skins, 1000 sea otter, $4,000 beaver, 25,0C0I
land otter, fox and martin skins, and about
% 600 sea- horse teeth. Not only the fur
markets of Russia are supplied by the
Company, but also those of China, and a.
- Al -
New Archangel, the principal town, is sit.
nate on the Island of Baranov, or Sitka, in.
latiLude 81 80 degrees, Ion gitude 1851 de-
orees. It was founded in 1906, and is a reg
Ilar military station, with population of
some 1900 persons. The fort mounts several
guns, and the Company Likewise employ
some twelve vessels, of from 800 to 400 tons,
mounting each ten guns. A Greek bishop
and Lutheran minister reside here, and
there are schools for the children OF Eu-
1opeans and half f-breeds.
BRITISH Columbia.
AS there have been negotiations entered
into with England for the possession of
british Columbia, few words on its posi-
fion and Importance may not be amiss.
TI,is colony was established in 1853 on the
Pacific. coast, and comprises the districts
hitherto known as New Columbia, New
l3eorgia. New Norfolk and New Cornwall,
and lies between the Rocky Mountains and
: the Pacific, and is bounded south by the
!. n 1rthern frontier of Washington Territory,
and north by simpsons river and the Fin
lay branch of the Pearl river. Its extent
Is about 10000 square miles. The country
-is widely different from that described
above. The soil is in most places good,
and cereals Of all kinds may be grown
there successfully. The climate, too, is
unusually fine. The district is under the
control. 50 for as its trade in furs is con-
cerned, of the H1dson's Bay Company, and
+ Is said TO be one of the richest districts |
of that body. Coal is plenty here and
can he found either cropping out from the |
surface or Immediately below it. 1t was |
thought on the establishment of the colony |
that q large tide of emigration would set |
An. but these hopes have by no means met
with any great realization.