The Washington herald., 1908-06-20
ROMANCE OF ALASKA
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.


Forty-one years ago to-day the formal
transfer OF the district of Alaska from the
Gar of Russia to the government OF
the United States was completed. VIII
liam H. Seward, Secretary Of State. be-
lieved he had won a great thing for his
country when he bargained and paid 81
10000 gold for Alaska Nearly every
body else believed that Mr.. Seward had
simply thrown away that much money.
that Alaska was nothing but a waste of
ice and could never amount to anything.
Just before his death Mr. Seward de-
clared that the greatest accomplishment
OF his active public life was the anneXa-
ton of Alaska. Then he added but it
viii take the country generation to
find out Alaska's value"
The generation of Seward is a genera
ton of the past. and the country to-day
is beginning to realize that his predic-
uons are fulfilled. The Portland Exposi-
ton three years ago taught the people
great deal about Alaska The Alaska
Yukon-Pacifc Exposition at Seattle next
summer will teach them much more.
Meanwhile Alaska is pushing forward in
its development without pausing to heed
the voice of pessimism.
Sixty years ago the North American
coast Of the Pacific Ocean whispered not
the slightest promise OF its present day
splendor. The Oregon country was at
tracing settlers, now that American
ownership had been made certain, and
the California territory was passing from
Mexican 20 American control Gold had
just been found In California and the
great rush 10 the golden West was be-
ginning. The romantic story Of those
sixty years which have produced the
great States of Oregon. California, and
Washington is known 10 all Americans.
But few remember that the '49ers
sought for gold with pick and shovel
which came from the forges Of Sitka.
the capital OF Russian America. and the
metropolis Of the Pacific. Few remember
that the first steamships which plowed
the waters OF the greatest Of oceans
were launched from Sitka shipyards.
Few remember that Alaskan-made cloth
ing and Alaskan-cut lumber were used
by the San Francisco pioneers.
The story Of Oregon and California Is
an unbroken tale Of triumphs Alaska IS
its past. To begin at the beginning. the
peninsula Of Alaska was discovered in
lbs by Vitus Bering. a Danish navigator
In the service OF the Russian govern
ment He gave his name 10 the sea and
straits which separate America from
Asia, and claimed the country for the
Russian crown. 4 few years later a
band OF Russian adventures undertook
10 settle the land. They so cruelty NAL
treated the natives that a massacre was
provoked, which the Russians frightfully
avenged Thus the Russian dominion in
America was bUilded on a foundation Of
cruelty
The Russian government began 10 pay
serious attention 70 Alaska IN the early
part OF the nineteeth century, and set
about making Sitka a commercial city
Shipyards and factories were built. d
trans-Pacifc commerce was established,
and for years a thriving trade was car
ried on Ruthless destruction of fur
bearing animals. the maltreatment Of the
natives. the growing Importance Of the
cities on the Pacific Coast of the United
States. the waste Of capital in develop
ing useless coal mines, and the gathering
Of coal for which there was no market
all these things contributed 20 the decline
OF the Russian trade. Finally the time
came when all the great Russian capi-
taIists withdrew. and Sitka degenerated
into a fishing village. It's very name was
almost forgotten, and the world aban-
doned it to the fetters of ice, which tho
world imagined bound II.
Thus 81 happened that the country be
lieved Mr.. Seward had been cheated when
he bought Alaska from Russia. Il was
declared that the sale OF this district was
only q trick which enabled Mr.. Seward to
give Russia $1,000 in return for assist
ance offered by Russia 10 the Lincoln ad-
ministration during the civil war. States
men declared that It would never return
the purchase price IN contributing 10 the
American trade.
FOTty-one years have passed. More than
the amount paid 10 Russia is yielded each
year from Alaskan fisheries. In the last
decade Alaskan gold mines have produced
more than a hundred million dollars
worth OF gold. and the product is con-
tinuing. To this is now being added the
produce OF coal mines and oil fields. the
importance Of which IS increasing rap
idly.
The present population OF the Territory
is about 10000, Of which $500 are white
men ana the rest natives. With such q
sparse population and with such a COM
paratively small development Of natural
resources, the trade between Alaska and
the United States proper now amounts
to more than $50 100000 a year.
So far from being a land OF never-melt-
ing and unrelenting ice, il Is now known
that Alaska has agricultural lands which
are greater in extent than the total area
OF the New England States, New York,
and Pennsylvania. AS long ago as 1876,
the first prize for wheat at the Philadel-
phia exposition was awarded TO grain
grown in Alaska. The wheat-growing
country is pushing fits northern boundary
nearer and nearer to the pole each year.
and another decade viii see Alaska an
important factor in the grain producing
business Of the country.
1t has been carefully reckOned by gov
ernment Investigators that Alaska is
capable OF supporting a greater popula-
ton than the Scandinavian peninsula OF
Northern Europe. This would mean the
expansion Of the present $1,000 population
TO 100000 and a multiplication OF wealth