The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-05-11
The Ce--ion Of Russian America.

The Ce--ion Of Russian America.
The most important political news received
by The late arrival, from >an Francisco i that
relatin. - the es>,i5n of Russian America - tie
-- Co. somewhat -lrarLaEl. -ro-
the whole transaction was virtually completed
herJ-e the first inr.Ination was gwen Of any re
g,riations On the subject. and that n5r q news
n9n-er in Europe or america dreamed Of what
We going on Til the treaty itself was laid before
the Senate for ratification. The basis Of the
treaty appears Il have been negotiated BY A.
-i-5ant Secretary Fox. durin. Lis visit to 81.
Petersburg. in lSC6. On our fourth page we
give al the telegrFhic news which has been r.
eeivei rclatin. - I'll. important measure. Tie
extent Of the territory eeied i c1nei~ely described
in the following paragraph taken from Harrer'z
Gq=dtee-:
Russian America comprises the whole OF the CONT
nenJ II Northwest America west Il long Ill : west.
and a strip on thu coast extending south 70 lt.
% north bouniei on the east by British America.
south AMI west by the Pacific ocean, and north by
the Arctic ocean, ani the following islands and
groups. Prince Of Vale Island. Duke f YORK -Arch:-
u-lago, George III. Archipelago, the Kciiac Island.
ami the AleutILn I>lndS The principal settlement
D.. New Archau-rl. small town with 100 initbit-
ants On the island q. >iIka. the largest Of the group
ii George III. This Island was ealel George III. by
Vancouver X : tie seat n the Governor Of IL the
establishments u Russian America the Russian
American Fur t1UEII-. incorporated! in l1sn, have
their chief establishment thsre; they have some fifty
OF sixty ships u al s.zes engaged IN the collection
and conveyance 81 ulJTy.
The area cf tbs territory Is not far from
100000 miles. and the population ha- been ati-
mated AZ 81 900 II about tie same a. that Of
the Hawaiian Llauisl. tie foreign portionof which
J. small. probably les than Loco. The climate.
though cold. i miller than in the same ATTITUDES
on the Atlantic. especially along the shores.
where the population ! mostly located Por-
tion- Of the Territory ara heavily timberei with
oak. ash, pine, &c
Respecting the value of this purchase. there
appears u have ben much difference of opinion
in the United States. many considering it almost
worthless. while 5thers say the amount paid
81. O.gD0) i reasonable. 1t i stated that -
worthless was the iew territory at first considered
in Washington. tlr not ten Senators were found
ready 70 vote for j.. though finally il was ratified
by a very large ~mjo-iry-about three-fyurths of
tie Senate.
All the paper which have come 10 hand great
IL UnderEa5e the ulue Of the new territory-the
highest estimate q! the trade Of Russian America
given uOt exceeding $500. 900 annually. twill be
seen from the flowing statistics, furnished u
by MeSsr-. HackfH i Co. who have been agents
AZ this port for TT Russian American Fur Com
a a. well a. tie Russian Government for the
Ta-t fifteen years. h2J il ! much more valuable.
Tie skins and :Irs collected in this territory
amounted. during 1850. u about Sl.5U0.0 600.
Thee consist Of ~ Otters. fur seals. blue foxes.
fxes. musknr-. minks. bears and beavers.
Of fur seals alone. J.G0U were brought U Homo
lllu last year. vahei (a5 cost price, AZ S5o0. 600.
Thee furs are coe-tei under instructions from
the Company IN : Petersburg. which directs Just
number shall be obtained and shipped II
London. New YORK and -. Petersburg. and no
more furs are alloTed = be taken and sent than
what have been qderei. lest those markets be-
cone orcr-tocked. Tire Russian Government has
moreover received; large annual income from the
Hudson Bay Company hr the privilege Of hunt-
M IN IL territory The furs taken by this com
amy in Russian America. are included in the
Dove fgurrs Of II. value Of cxEorts from the ter
Beiie- the imrortant fur trade. which has
zen carEei ON -i,h great profit for sixty or
e--l-E .e-r-- aDivii-a j. doubles a. V-of-all.
s- in r.e tar when john jacob A-r5r fol
owed it.. tic vurea-e include tie right u the
a@erlu- i-ii1i- dong ,le northwest coast. ami
ia. - a-..rs .aa.r- them. well a= -fc