Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-21
THE ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY.

"a L.
Story of the Way in Which it Managed to Get
Control OF the Fur Seal Trade of the
World.
New York Graphic.
When arrangements were made for
the formal transfer of the territory of
Alaska to the United States, in compli-
ance with the terms of the treaty of pur-
chase, Gen. Rousseau. of the United
STATES army, was named as commission
er to receive the territory for the United
States. Prince Matsukoff, governor of
Russian America and governor of the
Russian American Fur Company, acted
for the Russian government. Mr.. II. NJ.
Hutchinson accompanied General
Rousseau to Sitka in the capacity of
private secretary.
The transfer of the territory was
very simple ceremony. 1t included the
transfer of all the Russian governments
property in the territory. Apart from
the land this consisted of the public
buildings at Sitka, comprising the gov
ernor's castle, the custom house, barracks,
officers quarters, hospital and wharf.
In addition to these buildings handed
over by the Russian governor to the
United States commissioner, other build
1ngs, with their contents, were reserved
by Prince Matsukoff as the property of
the Russian Fur company, though the
company had been paid $250,00O for
their buildings and other property, said
payment being in addition to the $1,000
600 agreed upon as the price of the terri
tory.
Having complied with his instructions
as governor of the territory and trans
ferred Alaska to the United States
commission, Prince Matzukoff tur-
ned his attention to disposing of
the property of the fur company. In
these negotiations Gen Rousseau. as an
officer of the United States, could take
no open or active part, and his secretary,
Mr.. Hutchinson, an acute, but impecun-
ious man, came to the front and complet-
ed bargain for all the property of the
Russian company in Alaska including a
large lot of sealskins stored in Sitka.
The bargain was on private terms, and it
was undoubtedly to the personal advan-
tage of Prince Matsukoff and Mr.. Hutch
inson to the exclusion of the stockholders
of the Russian Fur company and Amer
lean officers stationed at Sitka who claim
ed that that they were entitled to a share
of the spoils-
This bargain raised Hutchinson from
penury to aff1uence. It also placed him
in possession of full details of the value
of the fur trade of Alaska and the seal
islands, of which he proposed to take
possession in the following year by vir-
tue of his bargain with Matsukof.
With the sealskins and other property
placed in his hands by the Russian ex-
| governor of the territory and governor
of the fur company, Hutchinson left
| Sitka for Victoria and San Francisco. At
the former place he met with Mr.. Kohl,
| owner Of a British steamer named the
Fidelitor. Kohl was taken in as part
ner by Hutchinson. and put his steamer
into the common stock of the firm, which
is still in existence as Hutchinson, Kohl
Il Co., occupying the same premises as
the Alaska Commercial company in San
Francisco.
The Fidelitor was used by the company
for several years in carrying supplies to
and bringing furs from Alaska, after OBJ
tanning an American register for her by
claiming that she was Russian vessel at
the date of the transfer of Alaska to the
| United States. By this trick the register
was obtained, and she ran for several
| years in the coast wise trade of Califor-
| MIA.
| On his arrival at San Francisco, Hutch
lnson quietly organized a syndicate to
work the fur trade of the newly acu uired
territory, particularly the seal fur trade
of the Pribyloy islands. They believed
| they would have no competition, and
that by virtue of Hutchinson's arrange
ment with Prince Matsukoff at Ska, thew
could hold the island against competitors
if any should appear.
| In the spring of 1868 Hutchinson start
ed from San Francisco at the head of a
| party with liberal outfit, prepared to
occupy the seal islands. Arriving there
| they found to their surprise and chagrin
that party of experienced sealers from
New London and Stonington, command
| ed by Capt. Morgan, and representing
Messrs. Williams, Haven & Co., and other
capitalists of New London, who had long
been engaged in the sealing trade of the
South Shetland islands, were in posses
sion of the Pribyloy islands, and had
come to stay. For several weeks fight
for possession of the islands was threat
ened, but inasmuch as battle with fire.
arms would brighten away the seals and
leave the battle-ground worthless to the
visitors, they decided to join forces and
divide the seasons catch. While thew
were amicably at work an expedition ar
rived at the islands from Honolulu. head
ed by Mr.. Pfugel, Russian vice consul at
Honolulu, who believed he would find the
islands free to all corners. He was fore
ed to retire before the cambined forces
of Hutchinson and Capt. Morgan.
1t had now become obvious that in
their unprotected condition, and with the
immense wealth of their seal rookeries
the islands would attract adventurers
from many lands, the rookerjes would be
destroyed, and the value of the islands
to the United States government utterly
destroyed unless prompt and effective
government protection should be pcovid-
ed. This was provided by act Of congress
in the winter of 1868, the conditions up
on which permission to take scales upon
the islands being reserved for future con
gressional action.
The coalit on represented by Hutchin-
son and Morgan continued and led up to
the organization of the powerful and
wealthy Alaska Commerce al company.
with its headq quarters at San Francisco.
Since 1870 this company has CONTROL
ed the entire fur trade of Alaska. By
virtue of its alliances with the Iessees of
the Russian seal islands it controls also
the valuable seal fur trade of the world