The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-04-25
From the cinclnnsii commerusl.
Our New Territory.


Notwithstanding tho dull humor
regarding icebergs and snow. plows
and the aurora borealis, Of the class
Of persons who desired To see the
American Republic confined 10 the
Atlantic slope of the continent The
Senate Of the United States has
confirmed Mr.. Seward's treaty, by
which we acquire the Russian Pos.
sessions. The more Senators learn
cd about the Russian Possessions.
the more thoroughly they were
convinced that the land was cheap
at two cents per acre. Professor
Baird, of the Smithsonian Institute,
who has had two explorers in the
corner Of the continent in ques-
ton, gives the following summary
ofinformation collected
"The Climate and Temperature of
the coast from Prince of Wales Is
land to the entrance of Behring
Straits, during the winter months,
is about the same as at the City Of
Washington. There is little snow
and much rain. During the sum
mer months heavy fogs prevail.
"Timber.-Tbe whole country,
well up to tho northern coast, is
heavily timbered- chiefly hard pine
forests-the small trees extending
down to tho very shores. Some Of
the islands, also, are heavily tim
bered with pine forests and dense
underground. Others of them are
destitute of timber, but covered
with grass of luxuriant growth.
"The Soi-0n tho west coast
produces excellent barley, and
roots such as radishcs and turnips,
and osculents such as lettuce, cab.
bage, &c,
nimals-Furred animals such
as sea otter, river otter, sable. fur
red seal, mink: black, silver and
red foxes, are found in great mum.
bers, rcd deer on tho south, and
reindeer on the north.
"FIsh.-Herring, salmon, hall.
but and Goldfish abound in exhaust.
lessibumbeis. In Behring's Straits
and to the northwest great whales
are very numerous"
Mr.. Collins, who sought the high
est source of knowledge in regard
to the physical and Typographical
condition Of tho northwestern limb
Of our continent, in the course OF
his Investigations to determine the
route Of the Russian American
Telegraph, says:
"The fisheries along the coast
and islands will build up popu-
fation and commerce there which
at no distant day will rival New
foundland and the coast of the At
lantic east of Cape Cod. The
shoals and banks along tho islands
of Russian America are the resort
of myriads Of Goldfish unsurpassed
for size and delicacy. Once give
US lodgment, these fishing towns
viii soon spring into existence, CIV
ing for our Pacific coast nursery
for first class seamen, which, in the
growing commerce of the Pacific,
will be.just what we want there in
the future in order To give us the
supremacy of that ocean. The fish
cries alone are worth more than the
whole cost of the country, and will
repay us in the future amply for
the investment. Theimmense pop
ulation of Asia and the islands of
the Pacific will be good customers
for our surplus fish, and will readi-
ly take all We have to spare. Tim
Der for building purposes is abun-
dant and convenient saw-mills will
soon make the lumber trade a
source of great profit, not only for
domestic use, but for export to
Asia and the more southern islands.
Boat and ship building can be car
riod on proftably where good tim
ber is so abundant and easily pro-
cured.
"The acquisition is also valuable
on account of several depoits of
coal along the coast and islands.
At Zodiac the Observation-Disclosures
Company have worked coal-vein
for some years past, and have used
it in their forges and workshops,
as we'll as in their steamers en-
ployed in carrying on their com
merce with California and Asia.
"Nor is this country to be count
ed as nothing in an agricultural
point of view. Wheat, barley and
oats can be produced as far north
as sixty degrees; gardens flourish
along the coast iu the settlements,
producing all the vegetables re-
quisite for domestic use.
at must always be remembered
that tho Pacific coast is much
warmer than the Atlantic coast of
equal degrees. The isothermal
line Of Sitka New Archangel) is
equal to Newfoundland or St. Pc
terburg. That is about 400 49, OF
| Fahrhenheit; and the mean of the
thermometer is ascertained to be
45o A; winter, $40 z; summer,
SO z.
dTaking it, then, as whole, the
country Of Russian America can
not be considered, as some would
have it, o dreary waste OF glaciers,
icebergs, white bears, walrus, and
only fit for Esquimaux and drink
ers of train oil.
"One more article of commerce
noust not he lost sipht of---that ie,