The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-08
WalrussIa.
From the Tribune.

From the Tribune
An official map of Northwestern America,
compiled for the Department of State at the
United States Coast Survey Office, 1867"
gives our seven million purchase from Russia
more attractive aspect. 1t there seems to be
the American counterpart of non-Russian
Europe north of the Baltic-that is, of Den
mark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and the
Ferroe Isles. Its chain of islets (Aleutian)
seem an uninterrupted continuation of the
large peninsula of Alaska, and stretch nearly
across the North Pacific in an easterly direction
for about 1900 miles. Several other consider
able isles are included in the purchase, besides
several bold peninsulas and deep bays-the
latter said to TEEN with edible fish. The prin-
cipal river (Knitchpeck) heads in British
America, through its chief afluents, the Yukon
and Porcupine, and has a length of
over 1000 miles, pursuing generally south
west direction, and debouching by several
mouths in lat. 81 deg. to 63 deg, below Nor
/ on Sound, instead of running northwest to
| the Arctic Ocean, as it is generally made to do
on the maps. We are assured that the whole
course of this river and its atfuents as well
as of the less considerable rivers farther south,
lies through an immense forest of the choicest
pine. There are several large rivers north of
the Knitchpeck, but the region is so cold that
they can be of little value. The average tenn
perature is said to be ten to twelve degrees
warmer than on this side of the continent
Valuable mines are vaguely reported, but lit
tie is known of them. Generally, the region
is rugged as well as cold, and there seems
little probability that much of its soil will
ever be cultivated. The fact that the Russians
sojourning on this coast were long ago accus-
toned to grow their grain in California, 1000
miles away, is significant. In fish and fur
bearing animals, the country is hardly sur
passed. The following article, translated from
the Cologne Gazette, probably gives as intelli-
gent and dspassionate an account of the terri
tory as can now be presented:-
THE oEssIoN OF RUSSIAN AMERICA.
If the cesslon of the whole of Russian
America to the United States is ratified, 1t will
oe very important event: not because the
A acquisition of large tract OF land by the
: United States promises an increase of power,
Ior territorial extension Is not desirable, and
q prove an Eldorado in furs' and its situation on
a the northwest coast of the continent will be of
g greaS slgnlhcance. The territory Is lI5OO Ger
mani square miles in area lying on the north
y Westslope ofthe Rocky Mountains has many
SIooSdp9 sn0%S.peaks and volcanoes, and is densely
Q Tt MTotueo u, IN the valleys, and on the rivers ana
nieIS arbS oi the coast range. The coast has many
HaTD0fs Hanp0 smut In by the Prince OF Wales and
sack Dechemes first discovered Behring's
StIphits' pt wndch Were exploded by Benring
a name. The volcanoes are generally Very high
y and streams are abundant, though unem.
ployed. Ihe climate is very diversified and
y much milder than between the same naraiiels
"a on the eastern coast of America or eastern
Asia. The coast as far as the peninsula o.
{ Alaska. has mild winters and cool summers
d with abundant rains, very favorable 10 Vegeta
- tion; but fruit trees do not prosper There ar,
scarcely 700 Russians among the 10 900 inhahi
y tants, iust one to hundred; Is, ,OO6 are half
4, breeds of Russians and Indians. Only Is OO
y Indians are Civilized and the rest scattered
IN over the vast region. Esqulmaux In habit thu
~ eastern half of Alaska, and there about $50
~ Aloots in the eastern portion; they ais
Nv inhabit the islands Of their name. The seat 0
er government of the country is New Archangel
or containing 1900 inhabitants. Twenty 1--WE year
he ago, IT had not population OF more than SO
a. souls. The timber and furs of the country be
ia came very useful when the Russians settled o