Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-21
MILLIONS IN SEALS.
What Uncle Sam Was Offered Today
for the Alaska Privileges.

for the Alaska Privileges.
TIE soESE At THE TREASURY WHEN THE BIDS
WIRE oPkNKp-FoRruSEs IN CERTIFIED
cHEcKs-rwELvE BIDS OPENED.
A large gathering Of moneyed men. repre-
senting some Of the most solid financial inter
ests Of the country. filed the Office Of the Sec
Rotary Of the Treasury at noon today upon the
occasion Of the opening Of bids for the ex-
elusive privilege for the taking of fur
seals from the islands Of ST.
Paul and St. George, Alaska, for the next
twenty years. The bids were opened by a
committee consisting of Judge Matthews, first
controller; Mr.. Z. o. Leech. director of the
mint, and Mr.. Albert sturtevant, chief of the
stationery division of the Treasury, in the
presence Of Secretary Window.
ALLOWING FOR DIFFERENCES IN WATCHES.
The Secretary waited until five minutes after
twelve when he said that in order to prevent
any mistakes owing to differences in watches
be would postpone the opening of the envelopes
Tor i've minutes longer, and as soon as the
opening had commenced no other bids
would be received. He added that he had
decided to allow no oral arguments
to be made at the opening. but
If any one had anything to say in the way of an
argument it might be presented in writing up
to Monday noon. All such arguments would
be printed at the Department. printing Office
and would be open for inspection.
HOW THE BIDS WE'RE OPENED.
When the additional fifth minute had ex-
handed the bids to Judge Matthews, who cut
them open and passed them to Mr. Leech. who
read them while Mr.. Sturtevant acted re-
corder.
THERE WAS NO CHECK.
The first bid was dated from 9O9 Walnut
street. Philadelphia, and was being read in all
its profound intricacy when the Secretary in
terrupted Mr.. Leech to tell him
that he need read no further
since the bid was not accompanied by
certified check for slOO, 900, stipulated in the
advertisement. The bidder had only sent a
promissory note for that amount At this an
nouncement there was hum of laughter.
A SAN FRANCISCO BID.
The Secretary then sent for a copy Of the
advertisement, which was read, and the second
bid was opened. 1t was from the American
fishing and trading company of San Francisco
The check inclosed with this bid was very care
fully scrutinized by the Secretary before the
bid was read. The firm agreed to pay sos, 600
q year for the privilege and S4l2 for
the revenue tax and twenty-five cents for every
~ n
fair valuation the plant of the Alaska company
on the islands. The bid was signed by Chas
ID. Ladd as president of the company.
Bid number three had no check and the Sec
re tary threw it out
WEST VIRGINIA PROPOSITION.
Bid four was in proper form and was read 1t
was from the North American trading COM
pany, West Virginia, offering to pay an annual
rental OF $4,000 for the privilege, 80 skin
tax, 45O skin ROYALTY, 80 cents a gallon
royalty and to establish and maintain a mail
service from San Francisco to Ounalaska.
The bidders called attention to the fact that
on the basis OF a catch of 10000 a year the
revenue to the government, if their bid should
be accepted, would be S445 900. or S254. 500 a
year greater than that il receives at present The
bid was signed by Mr.. Chas. F. benjamin of
this city as attorney.
ANOTHER CALIFORNIA BID.
The bid numbered five was from the Pacific
steam whaling company of California. They
offered the sum of $4,000 year and a royalty
Of 81. Is p tax and S5l5 bonus) for each seal
taken. The bid was verv brief and Vas signed
by ]. n. knowles, president.
THE ALASKA COMMERCIAL COMPANY
Number six came from the Alaska CONNER
cial company, the former lessees. Their
amounts we're 1900 as annual rental. 81 tax,
Of the inhabitants of the islands, They offered
to run mail service from Sitka to Kodiak dur
ing four months of the year.
The check was drawn by Albert Frazier and
the bid was signed by Louis Glass, president of
the company. The bid stated that the United
States would be in receipt of SS75, 900 wear if
the company should receive the contract
A TOTAL OF S2,OO0,O 900.
The seventh bid came from Robert W.
Stewart, T. W. Pearsall l. and S. wormsell,
A. E. Bateman, Lemon Bros, ct al, proposing
to pay $4,000 annual rental. 90 tax. s2lO 900
total bonus for the twenty years, IS cents a
gallon for oil, making total of 80 900 900 for
the period of the lease. Z. W. Clark signed the
bid.
OTHER BIDS.
Bid number eight was under seal and was
from the Atlantic and Pacific trading company
of New York, offering the sum of $4,000 an
nual rental and sS.l21S tax and bonus. Chas
II. Tenney, president, signed the bid
Bid nine was from the North American Com
mercial company of Illinois. Offering $50 900
year rent and a tax and bonus of 81. III for
each skin. Henry L. Turner signed the bid as
president.
ALTERNATIVE PROPOSITIONS
The standing crowd had begun to tire when
bid number ten was reached. 1t was from the
North American commercial company Califor-
mia. The bid was SIS, 200 rental, 50 revenue
tax, SS.75 bonus for each seal skin, and they
wanted the government to promise not to re-
strict them to a catch of less than 100000
year after the first year. Or they
were willing to pay, in addition to the rental
and revenue tax, 45 per cent of all receipts
from the sale of seal skins This. they said.
would net the government at least IS a skin
Or. as a second alternative they offer to paw
10 per cent more than any other bidder l.
Liebes signed the bid.
Bid number III was from the North Ameri-
can commercial company of San Francisco,
offering to pay S60, 900 rental, 81 revenue tax,
SL621a bonus and so cents gallon for oil.
CHECKS FOR MILLION DOLLARS
Bid twelve was the last one, ana when il had
been opened there was bundle of certified
checks to the sum of $1,000, 600 lying on the
table before the Secretary.
Twelve was from the same firm as ten and
eleven. the North American commercial COM
pany of San Francisco. Their terms in this
bid were So. 100 rental, 90 revenue tax, SS.25
bonus and 80 cents a gallon for OIL
CLOSED AT HALF-PAsr ONE
The reading of the bids closed at 1: 80 o'crock
and the Secretary, after a consultation with
the committee, announced that the printed
bids would be ready for distribution tomorrow
noon.
SUSAN AND MRS. BONES.