New-York tribune., 1910-11-03
URGED ALASKA PURCHASE
Prof. Brewer Convinced Seward,
but Found Johnson Difficult.
LONG CAREER I'M SCIENCE
Combined Exploration and Pedi.
gogy with Expert Knowl-
edge of Horses

To William H Brewer. who died at his
home in New Haven early yesterday morn
ing. belongs much OF the credit for the
purchase Of Alaska. 1t was he who was
largely instrumental in persuading Presi-
dent Johnson and Secretary Seward Of the
advisa bility of that move
/ I urged three reasons upon Seward for
buying Alaska" said Professor Brewer re-
| Gently First. we need 1t for its fishing
rights I said to him. What great thing
for America it would be if We owned the
Banks of Newfoundland. See how the fish
ing industry built up the Dutch Republic
England has always fostered her fishing in
dustry. and see her results
/ Second. | said that Alaska must become
a great source Of ice for the Pacific Coast
| How laughable that reason appears now!
/ Yet il was a very scientific argument then.
and the company which controls the fishing
/ industries OF Alaska was originally only
/ an ice company. according to it's charter.
Third was a very sentimental reason.
but I am inclined to think that it is being
demonstrated by the events of later years.
! I said that the climate and scenery OF
/ Alaska were of pecuniary value. It was
/ and is a land OF unequalled sublimity and
grandeur. The Alps have brought millions
OF dollars into Switzerland. The White
Mountains have brought fortunes into New
| Hampshira Both will in time yield TO
| Alaska in mountain scenery. l can still
| see Seward smile as I told him that the
people Of the United States would. in time
want to visit Alaska for the sake Of the
! scenery I said I might not live to see the
time. but that q nation lives longer than
q man. and that the time would surely
come when trips to the north regions
would he commonly made for pleasure.
Seward was convinced, but Johnson
proved more difficult. A while after Pro-
fessor Brewers conversation. however, the
President visited New Haven. AMI there
the advocate Of Alaska met him and com
pleted his work.
The professor was born in Poughkeepsle
in 1895 He was graduated from the Shef-
field Scientific School of Yale in ls52' with
the first class TO go out from that insu-
tuition After studying at Heideiberg'
Munich and Paris he began his work as a
teacher in 1888 as professor OF cnemlstry
and geology in Washington College In
1850 he was made first assistant in the Cali
fornia geological survey. He became pro
fessor of chemistry in the University OF
California in 1858 Then in 1854 he took up
Sheffield Scientific School. where he re-
mained the rest of his life. He retired
from the active work of the department IN
1909 and became professor emeritus.
He had been employed by the govern
men+ on various occasions in important
capacitfes He was on the Typographical
survey Of Connecticut. the commission on
cereal production in the United States in
connection with the tenth census. on the
Tinted States Forestry Commission in 1895
and on the scientific survey OF the Philip
Pine Islands in 1909.
Professor Brewer was an expert on the
subject OF the horse More than thirty
years ago he predicted the coming Of the
tvo-n7inute racer He also advocated the
use Of horsefesh as food.
He won considerable reputation as
traveller and was much at home in the
northern regions. He had also climbed
several Of the highest peaks Of the Rockies.
In the recent Peary-Cook controversy he
stood up for the discredited explorer and
declared that both men might have reached
the pole.
Professor Brewer had been a member Of
the National Academy Of Science since 1880.
From 1892 to 1909 he was president Of the
Connecticut Board Of Health. and from
! s94 70 1909 was president Of the Arctic Club
Of America. He was also a member IF the
Connecticut Academy Of Sciences. its presi-
dent in 1887 and 1897; of the American So
ciery of Nationalists. the Society for the
Promotion IF Agricultural Science. etc.
Among his published works is the Bot
any Of California" 1875.
He married in 1sJS Miss Angelina Jane
son. who died IN 1850 His second wife,
whom he married in 1858. was Miss Georgi-
anna Robinson. She died in 1889