Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-06-09

enormous profits, the fur trade.
Farming would tend TO clear away the
forests and thin out the fur animals.
1t was also injurious to the fur traf-
tic to divert the natives into any other
pursuit, Hence the mineral and ag-
rieultural resources OF Russian Amer
lea were studiously kept in the back
ground, and much matter was cirou-
lated in Europe about the terrors of
the climate.
In the summer OF 1864, durinr the
Crimean war, tho Russian government
considering the opportunity favorable
resolved ON step 1t had long con-
templated, This was to hem In the
British possessions ON the Northwest
coast by conveying the Russian terri
tories to people whose activity and
proximity would create q powerful
rival to England In the North Pacific.
Baron Stoekl at that time formally
proposed the sale of the whole OF
Russian America to the United States.
President Pierce declined the offer
for reasons never made public, but,
which also induced him nc about the
same time TO decline the gift x the
whole OF the republic of Honduras,
which under the administration OF
President Cahanas, was rendered to
the United States through Senior Bar
rundia, the special agent sent hither
for that purpose, This proposed
cession of Russian America was re-
gardcd as the first step toward the
acquisition of all the northern part OF
the continent by tho American repuh-
lie. But at that time Pierce feared
complications with England and then,
too, Russia America was considered
worthless by many.
There We're good reasons to assume
In 1867 that the acquisition COM
pristng nearly 100000 square miles
would reward exploration by turning
up wonderful mineral country. The
imperial government was long desir.
GUS that the Russlan-Amerlcan COM
pany should explore the interior. The
company raised every practicable OBJ
lection against this. urging mainly
the torrors of the climate and tho
savagery OF tho natives,
The ghost In tho closet of the Hud-
son Bay company always was that
gold might be discovered In British
Columbia, which would ruin their en-.
ployes to the plaoers At last In 1853
the dreaded discovery was made, and
the company's factors fastened to as
sert that II was all humhug. and with
its traditional dislike Of immigration,
advised strangers not to visit British
Columbia, This was also the policy
of the RussianAmerlcan company.
The New York Herald In tho spring
OF 1867 contained the following about
the mineral wealth of Alaska:
The discovery of gold has been
steadily TO tho northward since the
days OF tho early Spaniards. who In
the sixteenth century imagined that
no one suspected It's existence In tho
North until tho California marvel
awolte the world to the splendid real
ity From that time richer gold fields
have been continually developed
North and Northward until those OF
British Columbia, far north OF
Fraser river, promise to outshine NIL
that has hitherto been discovered.
'MrCollins states that gold mining
has already been commenced by
American prospeetors on tho Stikine
or 81. Francis river. This river flows
into the sea through Russlan-Ameri-
can territory. and the writer adds
that the prospect for gold on that
river was reported TO be equal to tho
palmy days OF California. On the
Copper river the natives bring Jumps
Of pure copper into the settlement OF
Kodiak, at tho mouth OF the river.
Many specimens have been sent to
St. Petersburg. Washington TImes.
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