The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-19
The Purchase of Alaska,

very worthless purchasci anu o'5N
swindle, was the opinion Of every one
who knew anything of that desolate re-
riou and the agencies that were en-
ployed in engineering the job through
t,onrress. Everybody will recollect
the rose .colored accounts that were pa
raded in the public prints OF the extra,
q ordinary value Of Alaska to the United
States. its wonderful seal fisheries, the
vast number Of choice furbearing ami
mails to be found there, and its immense
supplies of lumber. Presently, also
coal was said to have been discovered
there, aud, little later, we had stories
of gold placers riyalling in productive.
ness those of California in its palmiest
days.
Mr. SKINNER, in nm essay occupying
many mortal columns, volunteered to
cnlighten the benighted public upon
the almost marvellous resources of the
new acquisition, and all sorts Of tricks
and devices were resorted to for the
purpose of proving how astute Secre.
tary Seward had been in negotiating so
important purchase from Russia for
the pitiful sum Of seven millions two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars in
gold.
1t is needless now to inquire how
much of this sum went to Russia, and
how much into the pockets Of lobbyists
and members of Congress. That the
Alaska bill was a corrupt job was trans
parent enough at the time Of its pas.
sage; was made clearer still by subse.
quent developments, and We are now
beginning to learn, from official sources,
that it is as costly to keep, as it was
worthless to buy.
General Halleck, whilst in command
of the Military Division Of the Pacific,
was greatly exercised about the proper
defence of Alaska. He knew nothing
about the territory in question; but,
finding from an examination of his
maps, that it extended to the North
Pole and any distance beyond it, and
that its area by measurement was $751;
900 square miles, he felt it his duty to
appeal to the Government for large re-
Inducements Of troops to stand guard
over Mount Elias, and to protect the
North Pole from trcspnssers. "This
Division" he wrote, "embraces more
than third of our entire territory,
and its troops comprise only about QUE
ninth Of our army, as il is now organ.
lied" Seventy-six companies, he urged,
were altogether insufficient for the de.
fence Of the Pacific States with Alaska
included. With his magnificent ide4s
concerning Alaska, nothing short of
thirty.fve companies for that Territory
would be considered adequate to its
proper protection. AS the companies
were not to be had, he did what he
could to keep up the delusion in regard
10 that Arctic swindle. He erected
Alaska into Military Department, put
General Jefferson G. Davis in command
of it, and despatched him to Sitka with
four companies, promising to send him
additional troops as speedily as possible.
Well, the four companies reached
Sitka in due time, and began to look
about them as well as they were able
through the dense medium of the con.
slant iogs aud rains that prevail there.
They found the only habitable strip Of
land moist and oozy, and covered with
a carpet Of moss foot thick. When
mere patch of soil was cleared Of this,
not even vegetables could be made to
grow on il without extraordinary labor.
Adventures focked 10 as usual; but
they soon left country where, day by
day, if it was not foggy, it rained, and
where occasional glimpses Of watery
sunshine only made the outlook more
dreary. Most of the Russians found at
Sitka also took their departure when
the territory was transferred They
were only too glad to get away. There
was then, almost literally, no human
thing for the troops to guard, except
scattered bands of Indians who brought
in furs, got drunk on whiskey, occasion
ally ambushed and murdered stray
traders, aud were hunted down by the
troops 10 return.
Recently, however, General George
ii. Thomas has superseded General
Halleck in command Of the Military
Division Of the Pacific. He has already
determined to break up the Military
Department Of Alaska and withdraw
all but two companies from their BAN
ishment in that dreary land of rain, and
snow, and mist. These two companies,
with cutter, are to remain to protect
the seal 6sheries-the only traffic Of any
consequence whatever in all that incl
ancholy region.
"The protection of Alaska costs, .
We are told, "a large amount of money,
ADD produces little no-result, except
chronic rheumatism, which spoils in a
single year two,tbirds Of the troops un-
fortunate enough to be stationed in
that land of fogs and chills."
So the truth is confessed at last. A
territory costing over seven millions Of
dollars is nov pronounced to be Of no
value, except for its seal fisheries, and
these, it was stated in Congress last
session, were monopolized by a. single
company. What becomes now Of Mr..
summers elaborate and ford dcscrip.
lion Of the Territory of Alaska?-Bai-
fimore Gazefte.
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