Economics of Eastern Siberia in the Periodical Press of the United States of America in the Second Half of 19th Century

The purpose of this study is to trace how and by what principle the economy of Eastern Siberia was covered in the American press, as well as to understand what perception of the Siberian region was formed in the minds of American public under the influence of newspapers. The American periodicals of the second half of the nineteenth century published many articles on the geography, history, and economics of Eastern Siberia. The increase in the number of articles about Siberia in American newspapers indicates that there was a remarkable interest in the Siberian region, its natural resources, population, and economy. American newspaper publications about the Siberian economy can be roughly divided into three categories: trade, agriculture, and gold mining. Each category was studied in detail and the arguments and conclusions were corroborated by excerpts and quotes from the newspapers. Newspapers have played an important role in shaping the country's public opinion about Siberia and its natural and economic resources. American society in the second half of the nineteenth century envisioned Siberia as a vast territory, rich in natural reserves and awaiting the development by the brave Russian colonizers. American readers identified themselves with the Russian population of Siberia, which, like them, carried the beacon of “civilization” and economic progress to the distant territories. Newspapers extolled the virtues of hard work of Russian peasants and industrialists, who bravely conquered the harsh Siberian landscape. The American public was most interested in newspaper articles about the gold mining in Eastern Siberia. American prospectors wrote letters to the editorial offices of newspapers asking how and when they could get to Siberia for gold mining. Newspapers instilled hope in the American society, that the Russian tsar would soon open Siberia to the American entrepreneurs and investors; and the new industrial and commercial joint ventures would bring great economic benefits to both nations.