IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) '« 1.0 I.I 1.25 U£|28 |S0 "^^ lio 111112.0 m 22 U 11.6 6" — V] <^ /^ (? 7^ / /A Photographic Sciences Corporation « 4^ aS^ s A^' \\ '^ V -<> #* /c T^% ^ 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. M580 (716) 872-4503 ^ Q>r ^m CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notat/Notat tachniquaa at bibiiographiquaa Tha Inttituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filnoing. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha reproduction, or which may aignificantly change tha usual method of filming, are chacited below. D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ D Couverture endommagia Covsrs restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculAe I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque □ Coloured maps/ Cartes gAographiquas en couleur D D D D D D Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Rali* avec d'autres documents Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reiiure serrie peut causer de I'ombrtt ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutAas lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte. mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont pas At* filmAas. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplAmentaires: L'Institut a microfilm* la mellleur exemplaira qu'il lui a *t* possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaira qui aont paut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthoda normale de fiimage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. Q Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur r~~| Pages damaged/ Iv I Pages endommagAes I — I Pages restored and/or laminated/ D Pages restaurAas et/ou pelliculAes Pages discoloured, stained or foxei Pages dAcolorAes. tachetAes ou piquAas Pages detached/ Pages d^tachAes Showthrough/ Trensparance Quality of prir Quality In6gale de I'impression Includes supplementary matarii Comprend du materiel supplAmentaire Only edition available/ Seule Mition disponible r~\ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ I I Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ r~~| Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totaiement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'er ate. une pelure, etc., ont AtA filmAes A nouveau de fagon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at tha reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmA au taux de reduction >ndiqu4 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 2ex 30X 7 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X ils lu lifiar me ag« Th« copy ftimtd h«r« has b««n raproducad thanks to tha o*narositv of: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibiiity of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacifications. Original copias in printad papar covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies ara filmed beginning on the first page with a printad or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain tha symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Meps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: L'exemplaira film* fut reproduit grAce A la ginArosIti da: Library Division Provincial Archives of British Columbia Las imagas suivantas ont 4t* raproduites avac la plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettet* da rexemplaire film*, et en conformit* evec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exemplairas originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim*e sont film*s en commen^ant par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la darnlAre page qui comporta une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autres exemplairas originaux sont film*s en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant oar la derni*re page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la darnidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ^- signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent *tre filmAs A des taux de reduction diff*rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clich*, il est film* * partir de Tangle sup*rieur gauche, de gauche * droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaira. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m*thode. eta •lure, * 3 I2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 m^nMivwiii! 1 r:Jir^ij PURCHASE OF TUB RUSSIAN POSSESSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA BT THE UNITED STATES. PAPKHS HELATINO TO TIIK VALUE AND RESOURCES OF TEIE COUNTRY. Mr. CoUins to J/r. Setoard. New York, Jpril 4, 18G7. Sib: The ninny erroneouH RtatomeulK in tlie press of the day in regard Im tlu? country of Ri-ssiun Amoricii liiis induced iiu- to liiy licfore you u numlx'r of facts not pcneriilly known to the public, and which, I trust, tniiy lu> valnnhle to t!ie Mcpartnicnt of State. hi my invcsti|<;Mlions to dctcrniini' the route of the Ru^sinn -Vmorican Tclegriiph, I sought tlie hi){hcst sourci'H of information in ri'^ard to tlie physiml ami topciirriiphical condition of tlm north- wi'Stern iinili of our continent. As early as 18."><-conie acijuaintcd with Russian otlici'rs imd parties hi;;ii in antliority who WiM'e cuinputunl tu unligltluu niu uu the subject, luid studied (tU tho map* aa«l b\>oktf thitt cwulJ be fonnd reb^i^t to tb« ci^ntrjr. R«.iur Ad.i'UOi! Fi'«I»;t;vIiii, mjy t»fT»or>>i.t uf'Viii; Atnnjr- i.i»ni>fi Uii'i \il.^r ).i\X U.o oflivv »f Gov<rnor and IHreclnrK of the Rus<>inn American Con from wiioin UlUcli lias lieeii learned. The iiaundaries and neneral outlint! of Russian America are so well known that nothin be said as to its location. Comni.-ncin^' at o4" 4(t' N. latitude, on the Pacific, the mainiaixl is in: by u succession of islandB to the l^'nlnsnIa of Aliaska, so that opon boats or small river stoi can navi^'ato safely between the islands and the uiainlaml. .Many of these islands are clothed with sjilendid limber, and the waters abound in lisli. The coast of the nminland is densely timbered, which tart waH one of the causes which induced the location of the RusHian American telegraph to be made inland and east of the mountains. The first river of any importance that enters the sea in Russian America is the ."^tekeen, or .*«t. Francis, in about .'ttl N*. latitude. This river has been followed by the teleiiraph expioring parties to the Cascailes, where it breaks tlirou>;h the coast ranjfo of mountains diviilinjr Ibitish ('olumbia from Russian America. This river is found navigable for boats, according to the reports of traders, for a considerable distance towards the Rocky Mountains, (.iamo and Hsh are abundant, timber fjood. and gohl minini; has already boon commenced by a party of .Xmericans. Natives are quite numerous during the fishing senscui, but are reported friemlly and anxious totnule furs, etc., for merchandise. Ft is said that tho prospect for gold on this river is oijual to the old 1840 days of Californnt. There are many small streams as you ascend along the coast and passes over the mountains into British Columbia, and ]iarties of native^ trade with the interior tribes more to the east and north l>y lollowing smiie of these streauis, and thus arrive in the valley between the Coast Range and Rocky Mountains. The next river ot any importance is tlit Copper Mine, which enters the sea in view of Mount St. Klias. in about (!0 N. latitude and 14'.i" W. longitmle. This river is of importance inconse- quence of its location ainl the access it gives to the interior, as it unites by a lake with the watirs of the Yiikan within Russian territory, giving almiint uninterrupted navigation from the coast, on the Pacific, by way of the Viikan and the Kritchpak, te Ynksn, timber i» plentiful; the country •ttiOuliJs in >{<«m< . nrr> i... i.»t>aH *iD',. J '.'•■li^ swidiiyr !'ib> bh»tinicut, and by empl.tvAsuf {ha HHdson'sBtiy ,Oftm|.any, as pcaoMtfoie and wonderruil^ imm-.-^t. lln 1\ lieing rarely known among iIumu. They are " orous, enterprisiiig people. tii«l very fond of loreign trade anil nu'rchandise. though the dilli- ind cost of transportation liy way of .Mackenzie's Riv<.-r route limitii the supply to iiiUcb low the demaial. Navigation by way of the Kritilipak wonhl inerease the trade and value of tliis country one hundredfolil in a few years; in fact the Kriti'bpiik, with steam upon it, would reveal a new world to enterprise and adventure. By this stream the whole of a hiUierto unkn4)wri country is brought within the reaeh of steam comniunicati(Ui from .'^an Francisco; and when the stais and stripes shall tlout at Fort Vuknn, we may look (or mines of gold and sdver being dis- covered quite as rich as those further south. The furs of this country are wonderfully plentiful, and form a valuable and extensive commerce both to the Russian and British traders. That the Huds.ju's Bay Compuny can alVord to transport their merchandise and supplies overland from Hmlsons Bay, or \i\ uay of St. I'liul. and return their I'urs over the same route, isa striking evidence of the value of the trade, because transportation over this long route cannot cost less than one dollar per pound. With the Kricchp.ik open to lituam navigation, ten cent.* a pound from Sun Francisco would |)ay bandstunely. Ujion the whole, Russian Anierici, with her dependencies, the islands attached thereto, \m a valuable cotnitry in itself, viewed intrinsically. !l is not such a country ns Oregon or Washington in climate or soil, but it has, nevertheless, uiaii.v sources ef wealth. In the .-outhern section golii is known to exist: on (}o|qiermine River (whence its name) there is copper. thou;;li as a matter of jiolicy the Russian Auieiican Company have not encouraged mining, because thi-y feared that mining, even if successful, would soon break up their monopoly • of the fur trade and (qten the ccnintry to the searching eyes of foreigners and the demorali/.ing inllucnces of cheaper goods and more lucrative employment of the natives. The (isheries along the coast and islands will build up a populition and commerce there which, at nodistantday, will rival Newfoundland an< nothing in an agricultural jioint of view. Wheat, barley, and oatn can be produced an far north an liO ; gunliMin (loiirinh along the con«td in the Runnian Betllumentn, producing all the vegotabluH recpiinite for domentic nne. It munt alwayn be remembered that the I'acific coant of America, of equal degrees, in much warmer than the Atlantic; coant. The inothermal line of Sitka (New Arehangel) in equal to Newfoundlancl or St. I'oternbnrg; that in, about 4(1 to Ait' of Fahrenheit, and the iiie:iii of the thermometer in ancurtained to bo 46- 4'; winter H4° T; summer 50^ 2'. Taking it, then, an a whole the country of Riisninii America cannot bo conniden-d. an nome would have it. a dreary waste of glaciers, ictbergn, white beam, and walrun, and only fit for the £n(|uiinuux and drinkern of train oil. One more article of couiiiierco munt not be lont night of; that in ice. On the inlandn there are many frenh-water laken, which afl'ord an inexhanntililc nnpply of very pure ice. The trade in ice, go far, ban been carried on either by the Runnian Anicricin Company, or under their permit: conne- quontly, the ice trude han not been developed to any extent. Tiii-i trade, in the bandn of Ameri- cann, would noon grow to wonderful proportionn. for the reanon that tliene lukes in Runnian America supply the only ice suitable for nhipment on the Piicilic north of the equator. I did not mention in order, when npeukin;; of the fisheries, that all the way north, from Cadiac to the Arctic, whales iire found in great abuiiclance. (,'iiiliac and Bristol Ij'iy are old whaling groundn, and many a New Kngland town owes itn wealth to the large catch of whales in Russian American water.-. Walrus are an plentiful at and about Behriiig Strait us blackberrien are witii u.- in August. Wi'h Aiiii-rican fisliing n<-ttlenienln along the ccant. the ivory and oi! of the walrus will become no nnall no'irce of wealth to our eiitt.'rprining tinhermen. One more fact in regard to climate and temperature. .Major Kenniciit died at the great eastern b«nd of the Kritchp'ik, livo huiidroU miK^s, ))y the cnnrse of tlie river, from itn entrance into Bcliriug 8«a. The tea iu the Kritchpak broke up ou the 'i?-t day of .May, I8>>ii, and i>n th« ■J">ih ol May II portion of }«■• f!Hi>pr«'.it)n* ii.-;.lie.rl<. .1 .__; «,.:: t^,».-, (!ii:'i!g v'.h them M..j»jr Kennicut'o remaing, unvigntod tbo river to the ne.* without. f*b-t'f action, and thou coasted north seventy milM to Fort ."*t. Michnel, it pout of the RuMiun Amaric«n Company. This proves n gre&l deal an to the favorable temperaliire of that country, mid makes the Kritchpak nearly as early aa the 8t. Lawrence in point of navigation. I have tiiu hoiioi to be, Very truly, your obedient gervant, P. McD. COLLINS, U. S. C. A., Amour River. Hon W. H. Seward, Secretaty <>;' State, U'(ufiitu/lnn. D. C. 3h\jor Orneral Mrlijs In Mr, Seicard, 1208 Wai.ni't Street. FiiiLADKi.ruiA, ApriH, 1807. .Mv Ukau Sin: I am gurpriged to find it stated that objections are made to the acquisition of UusHiiin America. 1 can ccmceivo of no greater boon to our Pacific Stnten, and I cannot nuppose that Atlantic Senatorn witic. As a lover of ni .-ountry, anxious for the growth and pronperity and strength and virtue of the nation, I nliould value Runnian America, its fisherien and mines, beyond the hot plains of Mexico or the fertile plai:tutions of Cuba. I trust that no effort needed to secure this great acquisition will be omitiec^ The execution of the treaty will crown our generation with the praises and thanks of future ages. I am, truly and respectfully, your friend aud servant. M. C. MEIOS, Quarlcrmcuttr OeneraL Hon. William H. Sbwabi>, Stcretary of State. 175374 The /(tlk wing trUgram teat receivfret a Btrip of Hhoro uiucli like Norway, which supplies Europe with enormous quantitiex of timber." " Tlie shore being an eantern coant, as re^ardn the ocean, in mncli warmer than a \vei»terii one." "The furs are u minor considfration; fisheries and timber may bo very valuable, the timber particularly ko to a c^aiit as bare bh that of the Pacific." SOME ACCOUNT OF KU.-'SIAN AMERICA. The fiilhti'ttig is the "uhuloiiiriif iv,'ormalion in regard to liuMian Amerii-a deriveil from Profegnnr finini, of the Hiuithmmlan Jnalilutinn : __ MKAWK or INrOMIATIOir. He haii had two explorer* in that fiotd between one and two ymutt. who returned lut autntnu, brintrinji; a rnuipleto collection of Kpecimens of natural history, extoudiug from the liritiidi Pomm;^- sions to the ithorcs of the Polar sea. CLIMATB — TEMPERATUIIB. -J The coast from Prince of Wales Island to tlie entrance of Behrinjt Straits, during the winter months, bus about the same I'limate and temp('r:itnri. «s at Wasliiii(rton city. There is little snow and much rain, and during the summer nontbs the weatiier is very foggy. TIUHKK. ; The whole country, well up to the northern coast, is heavily timbered, chiefly hard pine forests. There are small trees up to the very shores. Some of the islands arc hcuvily timbetcd with pine forests and den^e underbrush; some of llieni are covered with grH8« of luxuriant growth. THK sort on the west coast produces excellent barley, and roots, such aa rudishej and turnips, and esculents, sach as lettuce, cabbage, etc. ANIMAI^. Fnrred animals, such as sea otter, river otter, sable, furred seal, mink, foxes, black, silver, red, etc.. abound in great numbers. Red deer are on the south and reindeer on the north side. ruH. Herring, salmon, halibut, and codfish abound in exhanstless nnmbers. (n Belinng Sea and northward great whales are very numerous. )Iinf:rai.8. Surface washings of gold have been discovered on the hiadwators of the streams on the oast side of the coast range of mountains. Tlie geological developments are the same on the west slopes. Native copper has been iliscoverod in various places on the coast and in the vicinity of Copper River. There isintnore c,f excellent rpiality, and believed to exist in exhauslless quail- tities, which is now being melted and worked by Russian artisans iu repairing ships, Ac CohI JH ri)iui(I in hxTiiii r|Uiii)titiL'H, mid ii* iihi>i| by tlio RuHBiiiiix for niiviil piirpoHUK. It in Hiniiliir to the New Hruimwick r(ml, iirid not eqijiil to CuuiliurliiiHl coiil. Kfeent (li»covorie« have boon made of wliiit \n believed tu be n better qiialilv of eoiil. It liiix not yet been teitted. IMIADITA.NTfl. Five or nix llionnnnd RiiKHiniiH mid fifty or Mixty thniimind IndiiinB und KMquiiniinx. The Eii(iuinu«ux inliiibit the eonxt on I'lie Northern Hen. They are ii:dii!>trion8 and peaeeablc, and live by hunting and (ittliin);. The Indiaim iidiabit the interior. Thoy are pcac-oabh-, and live by hunting, fiMbing, and trapping. Mr. Omba to Ur. Semird. WASHixnTox, Aprils, 18«7. Sir: I regret exceedinply to hear that there iH<>ven a poaHibility of the rejection of the Runnian treaty. Ah a eitixen of WnHJiington Territory, a reHident for many yearn on the F'acilie coant, and having made its interewta a matter of study, I can state, without lieHitation, tliat the coniitry re/in- quifihed by RuHxia in the nioHt important aopiiNition that we could olitain. I know that I Hpoak the HentinieniM of the entire population of the I'aeilic when I miy that its Ions will create there a feeling not only of dixappointment. but of injury. In the whole line of the coaHt beioiiging to the United State*, the harbor of Sun Frunciiico is the only one at once ai-cessible to veHHeU of heavy draught and ilefennible. I'ugot's Sound, with all its bays and harbors, is entirely at the mercy of ai> Knglish tieet. which, secure in the easily fortified ports of Vancouver Island, commands the whole Strait of Fuca, it* entrance. In rase of war with any maritime nation, nur corameri% would ngain be swept from the North I'acifi" • it was during the late rebellion, by a single cruiser. With, however, the innumerable oays which lie among the islands or run far into the coast of Russian America, we could, wi'.iout keeping a piuverfiil fleet on that sea, or a numerous land force, protect it against the world. To enumerate the other c insiderations urging the ratification of the treaty would expand this letter into an essay, and I wili not trespass further on your patience. I ani, sir, very resj jclfullv, viur obedient servant, GEORGE GIBBS. Hon. Wm. ii. Sewabd, Serrtiary <»f S\ fte. Mr. FfHrlitr In Jtr. Setciird. lEstract.) MODMT AlBY, PlIILADEMMIIA. Jpril S, 1867. Dbar Sir: I beg loave respectfully, as one of the nation, to return you my thanks for the great benefit vnu have conlerrod upon the whole Union by your recent treaty with Russia, obtaining tlieitdiy the vast fishery gniuii'N extending into tlmsi- iiorthi'rn seas. Wo shall want all the fish tiiat can be caught there to feed our rapidly increasing population. Respectfully, your friend, CHARLES FREOf^RICK FLETCHER. Hon. Wii.i.iAM H. Sewakk. Secnlury (/ Sitile Unikd States of Amrrlai.