The Washington herald., 1915-01-01
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How Secretary Seward Made the
Alaska Purchase.
Written Expressly for The Washington Herald)
BY DR.. E. j. EDWARDS.

Alaska Purchase.
! written Expressly for The Washington Heraldl
BY DIR. E. j. EDWARDS.
| With what simplicity some of the great
est events in our history as a nation have
been consummated was strongly I'M
pressed upon me by a conversation which
I had during President Arthur's admin
! istTation with a gentleman who was
| familiar with much of the life at the
State Department at the time William
II. Seward was Secretary Of State. At
the time of my conversation with this
| gentleman there was no revelation OF
| the enormous wealth which tine peninsu-
| la of Alaska contained.
Millions in gold have now been taken
l from Alaska's soil and such experts as
, the late Maurice l.. Muhlmann were
strongly persuaded that in time, when
Alaska is open to transportation, her gold
production will match that Of any other
of the great gold-producing regions Of
the United States.
William II. Seward, when Secretary OF
State, was anxious to secure for the
United States the Alaskan peninsula. His
son, Frederick w. Seward, told me a
long time ago that his fathers chief pur-
pose was to bring into possession of the
United States all of the Pacific coast
line of the North American continent eN-
cept the comparatively short stretch over
which the Dominion of Canada had au-
thOrity
Mr.. Seward. about a year after Andrew
johnson became President began to feel
cautiously of Russia so that he might
learn whether or not she could be per-
suaded to part with this peninsula, which
at that time was known as Russian
North America.
He discovered that Russia would sch.
but would give up its sovereignty on no
other terms thai cash basis. At first,
Russia's representative at Washington
intimated that she would regard 81, ,OOO. 900
as a fair price. Mr.. Seward. however
thought that an excessive amount for a
region of which there was only faint
knowledge and which at best had q
climate similar to that Of the northern
part Of the Scandinavian peninsula.
There was considerable dickering At
last Russia named $lO,COO.OOO and Mr. Sc
ward named $J,OOOO0O. with the expected
result that a compromise naming 81
10000 was reached.
Mr.. Seward was accustomed to receive
informal calls from the diplomatic repre-
sentatives of other countries early in the
morning, frequently at the dinner hour
and sometimes late at night. One even-
Ing in the early spring Of 1861, Mr.. Sc
ward was entertaining some company
who were enjoying the fragrant cigars
which it was his custom to pass around
among his guests. Almost unannounced.
the minister from Russia appeared and
said in a most informal way: Mr. Sc
ward, my government is ready to accept
your terms. Russia will sell for S7.2OO. 900
II convenient to you. will call at the
State Department tomorrow and we can
draft a treaty.
Instantly Mr.. Seward was upon his
feet, and once more shook hands with the
Russian minister cordially. as he said:
Why not tonight? What's the use of
waiting until tomorrow"
One of those who were present suggest.
ed that ii would be necessary to light
up the state Department and to search
the town for the several subordinate Off
GERS whose presence would be necessary.
What of that said Mr.. Seward. Long
afterward it was known that his reason
for this haste was his fear that some
thing might happen at any moment to
prevent the contamination of the bargain.
AT midnight the State Department pre-
sentcd an appearance which it had not
done since the days of the civil war
Many of its windows CLEANED with light
In Mr.. Stewards office. the Russian min
Ister and a few others were assembled
The draft of the treaty was made. the
enEroSsing clerks put II into proper form,
and just as dawn was beginning to ap-
pear in the eastern sky Mr.. Seward and
those who had written the treaty which
gave Alaska to the United States depart
ed to snatch a few hours sleep before
the department opened for business
lCoryright. 1915. by L. J. Edwards. All rights re-
servcdD
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell Of
The Curious Sounds that Are Never
Heard :"