The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-04-19
The Climate and Productions Of Rus
sian America.
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin,


Since the Russian treaty has been ratified
by the United States Senate, and the House
of Representatives is likely to grant the ap-
consummation of the treaty, the question is
naturally asked will this country, either
from its climate Or its productions, be of
any positive advantage to our people? The
drift of the recent testimony is much more
pressions of the public mind While in the
possession OF Russia it was deemed region
of icebergs, aId therefore, as a country,
Yankee ever finds something good in all
things which he owns. 1t was Tristan
Burgess, of Rhode Island, who pithily said,
place Yankee upon bare rock and he
will obtain living, not from the surface,
but BY drilling hole in the rock and
obtaining from beneath the treasures of
hence that Russian America may be of
little value to the Russians, but of consid-
cradle value to the Yankees.
One thing is certain, it contains natural
treasures. 1t is conceded that there are
coal, copper, iron and perhaps gold mines
in the ceded territory, and one calculating
Yankee insists that large ice trade will
grow up from the shores Of Russian Amer-
ca with China There are large quantities
of ice sent from Boston to the Indies. 1t
would be much nearer and much cheaper to
transport the same from our Russian Amer
lean possessions. In relation to the climate
there has been considerable misapprehen-
sion The Pacific coast is much warmer
than the Atlantic coast. The difference in
fa Of tho paoIffo chora OF 1aaaf toy do
grees of latitude Professor Baird, Of the
Smithsonian Institute, who has spent one
or two years in the Russian Possessions, de-
clares that the climate on the islands off
the coast from the 55th to the 6ist parallel
of latitude, is as mild as that of the city of
Washington. This certainly has not been the
prevalent conviction concerning the climate,
but the most reliable testimoney goes to
prove that the climate is much like that of
Scotland, and we believe that, taken as a
whole, the soil is far superior. England
considers Scotland valuable possession
and so the time will come when Russian
America, under Yankee industry and
Yankee enterprise, will be deemed, if not
precious jewel in the state of the Union,
at least a domain necessary to the full
rounding out of our possessions upon this
continent
We subioin below the testimony of Prof
Baird and Rev. Horace Bushnell, which
was laid before the United States Senate,
and which was instrumental in procuring
| the ratification of the treaty: 81.
THE climate and temperature OF the
coast from Prince of Wales Island to the
entrance of Behring Straits, during the win.
| ter months is about the same as at the City
of Washington, There is little snow and
much rain. During the summer mouths
heavy fogs prevail. 90. -,
Tin mber-The whole country well up tc
the northern coast, is heavily timbered-
chiefly hard pine forests-the small trees
extending down to the very shores. Some
of the islands, also, are heavily timberet
with pine forests and dense underground
| Others Of them are destitute of timber, bu
covered with grass of lu1uriant growth.
1.-THE Soil-On the west coast the sol
produces excellent barley, and roots, such al
radishes and turnips, and esculents such a
LETTUCE, cabbage, &c.
"Enimals-Furred animals, such as Sc:
otter, river otter, sable, turred seal, mink
black. silver and red foxes, are found il
great numb bers; red deer or the south, anC
reindeer on the north.
"Fish-Herrihg, salmon, halibut ant
Goldfish abound il exhaustless numbers. II
Behring's Straits and to the northward
great whales are very numerous.
"Minerals-Surface washings of gole
have been discovered on the headwaters o
the streams on the east side Of the coas
range of mountains. The geographical
developments are the same on the westeri
slopes Native copper has been discovered
in various places on the coast and in th'
vicinity Of Copper river. Iron ore Of excel
lent quality land believed to exist in mex
haustible quantity is now being smeltet
and worked by Russian artisans, in repair
ing ships, &c. Coal is found in large qlian
titles, and is used by the Russians for naya
purposes. In quality it is similar to Nes
Brunswick coal, but not equal to Cumber
land coal. Recen. discoveries have bee
made Of What Is believed to be a bette
quality Of coal, though it has not yet bee
tested"
Rev. Horace Bushnell, of Hartford
Conn, who has spent much time on tn
Pacific coast, gives similar testimony. n