The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-05-21
Our Hyperborean Possessions


New Orleans Republican.
One of the greatest crimes the Democ-
racy has taunted the Republican party
with having committed, was the pnr-
chase of Russian America for the great
sum of about s., 500 900.
Nor were the Bourbons alone in their
contempt for this measure, for the whole
world laughed at our apparent folly in
making the acquisition. The English
papers congratulated the United States
Government upon its new possession the
Democratic party howle1 over such a
useless expenditure of public money,
and even some Republicans derided
what they termed Mr.. Stewards ice
farm; and if they did not exactly say
so, many of the members of that grave
and wise body, the United States SEN
ate, condemned Mr.. Stewards action,
and it required all his immense prestige
and influence to obtain from them the
ratification of the purchase.
But time has proved the correctness of
the great statesman's Judgment, while
facts have demonstrated that the new
territory is worth more than the money
paid for it. The so-called ice fields are
covered with grand forests of trees of
various kinds, as valuable for spars and
ship building as the lumber of Maine or of
Oregon, while the bowels of the snow
covered mountains are rich in precious
ores, and many Americans are gathering
wealth where the chilled Indians couch
over their wood fires, or their ancient
masters, the Russians, once wandered,
bitterly lamenting their cruel exile.
American energy and native American
pluck have fought hard battles with
Nature, and have won them, and now the
inhospitable land begins to show signs
Of prosperity. Numerous whale fishing
stations have been established on the
storm-lashed coasts, where the brave
fisherman, in staunch boats, each with
| his harpoon gun, attacks the California
whale in its seething element, and battles
to the death with the huge, ungainly
black fish or the playful, 1.-THE porpoise.
Thousands of barrels of fish oil are an
nually collected and sent to San Fran
cisco, while the woods render their trib-
ute of fnrs, and the pine forests their
thousands Of spars for shipping, as well
as great quantities Of resin and pitch
During certain months in the year, mill
ions of seals make their appearance or
the shore and there bring forth Their
young. Myrads are slaughtered, for theil
skins and oil have become important
articles of commerce, and from this source
alone the Government derives revenue
almost sufficient to pay the interest or
the money invested in the purchase, al
we'll as the expenses of the Territorial
Government.
Shoals Of Goldfish, of far greater value
than those that annually visit the Banks
Of New foundland and the bays and inlets
Of Canada, are met with on the Alaska,
coast, while numerous vessels from Sa1
Francisco, Portland and other places
are constantly engaged in catching ane
drying the fish. Shoals of shad trequen
the bays, creeks and months of thu
rivers, while the rivers themselves teen
with salmon and delicious trout crab
and Holsters lurk behind the stones OF
the river bottoms, while vast beds o
she'll fish have been discovered here ant
there along the coast, almost as far nortl
as the regions of eternal winter.
In fact, Mr.. Stewards speculation la
proved paying one, for it has been as
serted that the revenue derived iron
various sources will pay an interest 0
about seven per cent. on the entir
money invested in the purchase.
Ayers Hair Figor restores the color an.