Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-04-25


II, 1867, the ceremonious occupation
OF the territory took place at Sitka.
The expedition sent out for the purpose
Of occupation by the United States
government comprised $50 soldiers,
under the command of General Rous-
seau. On it's arrival at Sitka it was
received by the Russian garrison with
military honors. The battalions of
both countries formed in separate
line. They exchanged flags and fired
alternate salutes. Next the troops
were brought to present arms, the
Russian banner was lowered from the
Flagstaff at the top of the fort and
then the Russian representative, adj
dressing General Rousseau, said:
by the authority of his majesty the
emperor of all the Russians l trans
fer to the United States all right and
title to the territory of Alaska
General Rousseau replied: "By the
authority of the president of the
United States I accept the transfer"
The United States flag was then
hoisted above the barracks and the
ceremonies ended by banquet ON
beard of one of the men of war
No such scene was ever before en-
acted on this continent in which the
government and people of the United
States had part. All other territorial
acquisitions had been of territory
contiguous to that of this country and
after difficult and protracted negotia-
tons. Alaska was distant foreign
country and its acquisition was
brought about in a short time and
with little or no difficulty. And at a
distance of 1000 miles from Washing
ton, away beyond British America,
few score of United States soldiers,
meeting a handful of Russian soldiers
who were likewise thousands of
miles from st. Petersburg-tOOk
peaceful possession of a territory
known to be of vast size, but of which
little else was known.
Senator Gwin of California in 1859
had a talk with President Buchanan,
in which the senator urged that the
Russian government be invited to
consider whether it would not consent
to cede Alaska for a sufficient con-
sideration to the United States. Blu
chanan thought favorably of the mat
Ter, but the most he would do was to
authorize Senator Gwin to commence
an unofficial correspondence with the
Russian minister at Washington, IN
which he should mention the sum CT
5000, 900, as possible equivalent Tor
the territory. The Russian minister
obtained from his government the per-
mission to enter into the cOrrespon-
dence. The more Buchana thought on
she subject the more he was inclined
to favor the suggested purchase, and
though the Russian government re-
piled that larger sum than $4,000
should be offered, it is almost GER
tain that, had not the civil war broke
out, the credit of the acquisition OF
Alaska would have been President
Buchanan's.
Nothing more was heard of Alaska
till 1866. In that Year the charter OF the
Commercial company, which had ex'
ercised all power In the cCuLtrJ
ever since Russian settlements were
first made there, was about 70 expire.
It was understood everywhere ON the
coast that on the terms named by
the Russian emperor a renewal of the
charter would not be made by the
company's members. Some people on
Puget sound, in Washington territory,
who were beginning to have pretty
good idea of the value of Alaska,
deemed it a favorable time to inter
est the United States in regard to 1t.
The legislature of Washington ter
ritory adopted a memorial on the SUB
ject, which was sent to President
Johnson. It's representations were
more especially with reference to the
cod and other fisheries, but mention or
other resources of the territory was
not omitted. In conclusion It was
urged that the United STATES acquire
all of Alaska by some speedy process.
Johnson thought well Of this memorial
and directed Secretary Seward to give
it his attention.
But California had alrea ly es-
tablished important commercial rela-
tions with Alaska and the merchants
of San Francisco knew far better than
other people the possibilities OF mat
territory. Steps were taken il that
year (1866) by number of San Fran
cisco capitalists toward organizing
a company to operate in the same
districts and on the same lines as the
Hudson Bay company. Abundance OF
capital was subscribed, but it was
found useless to proceed with the en-
terprise unless Alaska were made
possession of this country. Those
shrewd men of San Francisco did not
dismiss the subject from their minds
they simply waited for time when by
change in the ownership of the coveted
territory, they might succeed to the
vast fisheries, including the exclusive
right to kill the seals, that had been
so long enjoyed by Russians and