Douglas Island news., 1909-08-18
Stewards Purchase of Alaska


 While angry debates of reconstruc- tion were engaging the politicians lon the hilP in Washington in 1867, the de- partmeut of state was quietly negotiat- ing a treaty the importance of which IS just beginning to dawn upon the Amer ican people Secretary Seward thought he saw real military and commercial advantage in the acquisition of Alaska. The heroic Cassius Clay, then United States minister to Russia, was sure of it. Russia was eager to turn over to the United States her American posses sions, that our Pacific defenses might be carried uorshward and married to her Asiatic Qualifications at the point where the waters of the Arctic and the Occidental seas caress. This was the czar's dream. To Secretary Seward came an Arctic vision of great conner eial reward in the development of vast seal aud fish industries. People who had been there had reported to him that the country in all particulars was like Norway and Sweden. Scandinavia had great cities, cultured capital, val uable commerce, a proud and indus triouS people, aud happy homeS. Wonld the great country through which flows the mighty Yukon some day parallel this? It might take Ce@turies, per hops: but the great unseen things have been the worlds most benignant boon. Concluding some friendly diplomatic dickeriug, Secretary Seward offered to the St. Petersburg government 81,2OO, 900 for their "Russian America" Even against the whole worlds unoelief at this price it was bargain.
 On the evening of Friday, March %, Mr. Seward sat in his parlor playing whist with his family, when the Russian minister was announced. 'I have dis patch, Mir. Seward, from my govern ment by cable" said Mir. StOeckl, tue Russian minister. "The emperor gives his consent to the cession. Tomorrow, if you like, will come to the depart ment and we can enter upon a treaty" Pushing aside the whist table, the i'm patient Seward replied with smile of satisfaction: "Why wait till tomorrow let as make the treaty tonight"
 "In these solemn hours the silent wilderness of centuries was released, and to a nations pillowed ear the low north wind whispered "Gold." When the suns rays fell upon this parchment and the world was told what that night had been done, the whole nation coupled the name of Seward with the epithet "FooI.n The press everywhere declared his acquisition a "harren, worthless, God forsakeu region" whose crops were 'icebergs'-a country where the ground was frozen "six feet deep in summer" the streams were glaciers" "it should be named "Walrussia;" the fish were "only fit for Eskimo food;" it was ''foors bargain; ''Oh, the shrewd Russians" etc., etc, etc.
 In the half century that has passed since the senate ratified that treaty, this "icicle" has produced wealth eX- ceeding s35OOOO,OOO, or nearly 100 per cent year on the "foo's investment"
 Alaska's exhaustless storehouse of precious metals was the lure that drew the argonaut, as did California in '49 and Nevada in the winter of 50. Seattle grew great from this argonautic traffic from swapping picks and pans and warm woolen garments for bags of fresh-washed nuggets. It's rapid growth and perfect stability have fastened upon it's people the chronic aftliction of infammatory enthusiasm.-Collier's.