The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-03-19

the trade had belonged to Russian fur
company, which had leased them TO tho
Hudson Bay company The lease as
well rs the privileges of the Russian
company had rln cut, and everything
now belonged TO the Russian govern
ment. He thought that the Russian
government would be glad to sell the
whole thing out to Il good American
company. Russia and the United States
We're on particularly good terms at that
time. talked the matter over with
some of my friends, and we arranged to
get up good company.
Il then went TO Senator Cole and
asked him TO inquire through Russian.
Minister Stokel if there would be any
chance to make the purchase. The
proposition was favorably received, and
we organized a company, with Gen.
A. Miller as president and Eugene Sulli-
van as vice-president. The other
members of the board of directors were
William Ralston, Alvinza Hayward,
Senator Cole, Sam Brannon, and Alex
ander Badlam. Senator Cole then for
mally opened negotiations with the
Russian government through Cassius
M. Clay, who was our minister at that
time in st. Petersburg, and Stokel, at
Washington.
"The Russian government then sent
out an agent, with full power and au-
thOrity to fix the price and terms of pay
ment and to sign the papers and agree
ments on the part of Russia.
1--WE met the agent ut the Occidental
hotel, and spent day and night in
making trade with him. Our arrange
ment, as finally made, was that every
thing was to be turned over to us, forts.
ships, arms, ammunition, utensils and
furs on hand, for price Il little over
$3.50, 900, with the exclusive privilege of
taking and trading for furs. The COM
pany made better trade than the gov
eminent did afterward, l think. The
agreement was not signed, but the COM
pany appointed Henry f. Baker agent,
with full power to execute all papers if
the schedule OF property was found to
be correct. The furs alone reported on
hand would have paid the purchase
price twice over.
Col. Baker went on board the
steamer Alexander. which was included
in the property to be purchased, expect
ing to sail the next morning. Late in
the afternoon of the day he went on
board Eugene Sullivan went down to
the dock. He was the vice-presdent of
our company, and told Baker and the
Russian agent that the company had
finally decided to back out OF the trade
Baker came ashore, and IN agent of the
present Alaska Commercial company
went on board. The Alaska company
had been trying to negotiate for some
time before. but the instructions of the
Russian agent were peremptory TO trade
with us ii we would trade. Our declining
gave them Il chance, which they awaited
themselves OF. Gen. Miller and one or
two Others were smart enough TO get
into the new company, and have made
fortunes ont of il.
1T was the one chance in lifetime
that II man has TO make fortune, and
l missed it. The company made
trade. don't know the particulars of
it, but just about that time it seemed to
occur to the Russian government that
the American company might not take
proper care Of Russian subjects and
afford them the protection that had been
given by their own government. The
discussion of this subject led to Il pro-
posal to sell the whole country to the
American government, which finally re-
suited in purchase, the details of which
everyone is familiar with. Sen Fran
cisco cal.