The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-12-12
ALASKA.

OoOu aIter INC acquisition OI Jnls lerrl-
tory by the United States, scientific
exploring party in connection with the
United States cost survey, was sent out to
examine these Northwestern American
possessions. Among other instrctions Civ
en- to this party of exploration, were to
search for fishing banks; to collect stat
istics of minerals, and to observe and
present information of the ocean currents,
and their influence on the climate and
productions of the country, and their
bearing on the important question of the
steamship routes from San Francisco to
japan and China.
The official report of this exploration,
as We learn from the IHiladelphia Pub
Tic Ledger, has been made, and articles
have been published by individual mem
bess Of the exploring party in American
Magazines, giving full, complete and salts
factory accounts Of the country.
cop FIsnEpIEs.
AS to cod fisheries, il is stated that the
supply from tho Alaska banks has already
closed the importation of Goldfish from
New England ports into California. The
eastern part of Behring Sea il ga mighty
reservoir Of cod" aud the area within the
limits of fifty fathoms Of water ig no less
than $4,000 square miles. The banks
along the shores Of Alaska, bordering The
Gulf Of Alaska, and South of tho Aleu-
tian Islands, will add, it il stated, not less
than $4,000 square miles, and thus the
fishermen will have a surface of $4,000
square miles, with an average depth ol
not greater than so fathoms over which
to ply their vocation. The value Of this
boundless source of wealth is almost in.
calculabe, and the banks of Ncwfound
land will sink into insignifcance by the
side Of the cod-bands of Alaska.
COAL DISCOVERIES.
The immense advantages arising from
the discovery Of coal suitable for consump
ton on the ocean steamers are obvious
10 every one aud need not be dilated on
II will be sufficient to state here that thu
United States Coast Survey, followin.
| the traces Of ignite aud water-worn spec
mems of coal which we're TO be found il
the st. John Valley, arrived at the con
clusion, from well known geological indi
| cations, that abundance of coal would b.
discovered iD that part Of Alaska. Til,
| lateness of the season, however, proven
ted a through exploration, but after til
departure of the corps. news was receives
by telegraph that the bed of coal pointe
out by the geologist Of the expedition
had been opened, and the substance, b
trial on the var steamer Saranac, pre-
nounccd to be anthracite.
OCEAN CURRENTS.
The Japan warm ocean current has u
important influence on the climate an
consequently upon the habitability of A
aska, this stream, which is much NOR
marked in its effect than the Gulf StreaI
in the Atlantic Ocean, being Of create
volume. greater velocity and higher ten
peraiure The main body Of this Pacif
current runs from tho coast of Niphor
in 35 degrees, latitude, 80, 900 nautict
miles, TO latitude, 50 degrees, and long
tude l4S degrees East from Greenwich
where il is within 800 miles of the Amc
can coast. At this point it divides. ii
larger branch striking Vancouver Islam,
aud thence running along the shores
Washington Territory, Oregon aud Cal
foruia tho smaller branch continuing
the coast of the Alexander Archepclag
and thence running along the shores
} Alaska.
THIS immense volume of warm wate
(tbe temperature of the surface in lai
! Jude 81 degrees being from 30 70 80 d
I grees in September,) exhibits its effec
upon the climate of Alaska, especially
the vegetation The condensation of Il
warm, vapor laden air by the colder al
drier air of the continent, produces hea,
T raius; hence the enormous and rap
! growth of trees, the luxuriant grassC
plants and MOSES. The difference
temperature between the wet and the d
bulb thermometers is very small, Indie
ting slow evaporation, and ice cannot
formed clear and solid enough to be I
ken to San Francisco. On the PaciI
coast large trees are to be found sev,
degrees farther north than on the easter
side, and gay flowers and rare and bea
, tiful plants give the shores of Cape Ii
burnc, in latitude of SO degrees, the a
r pearance of garden.