Evening journal., 1915-01-01
New News Of Yesterday
How Secretary Seward
Made the Alaska Purchase
By Holland.

With what simplicity some OF the
greatest events in our history as a ma
tion have been consummated was
strongly impressed upon me by a
conversation which | had during Pres
ident Arthurs administration with a
gentleman who was familiar with
much Of the life at the State Depart
ment at the time William H. Seward
was Secretary of State. At the time
Of my conversation with this gentle
man there was no revelation of the
enormous wealth which the pennsu
la Of Alaska contained.
Millions in gold have now been TAX
en- from Alaskas soil and such ex-
perts as the late Maurice l.. Mulnmann
we're strongly persuaded that in time,
when Alaska is open to transporta-
ton. her gold production will match
that of any other of the greater gold
producing regions of the United States.
William H. Seward, when Secretary
of State. was anxious 10 secure for the
United States the Alaskan peninsula.
His son. Frederick w. Seward, told me
a long time ago that his fathers chief
purpose was to bring into possession
of the United States all Of the Pacific
coast line of the North American con-
tinent except the comparatively short
stretch over which the Dominion OF
Canada had authority.
Mr.. Seward, about a year after An
drew Johnson became President, be-
gan to feel cautiously of Russia so that
he might learn whether or not she
could be persuaded to part with this
peninsula, which al that time was
known as Russian North America.
He discovered that Russia would
SELL but would give up its Sovereignty
on no other terms than a cash basis.
At first, Russia's representative at
Washington intimated that she would
regard Si5.00O.000 as a fair price. Mr..
Seward, however, thought that an ex-
cessive amount for region of which
there was only faint knowledge and
which, at best, had a climate similar TO
that OF the northern part Of the Scan
dinavian peninsula. There was con-
siderable dickering. At last Russia
named S10.000.0OO and Mr. Seward
named S5,QOO,OO0. with the expected
result that compromise naming ST.
100000 was reached
Mr.. Seward was accustomed to re-
ceive informal calls from the diplo-
matte representatives OF other coun-
tries early in the morning, frequently
at the dinner hour. and sometimes late
at night One evening In the early
spring of 1867. Mr. Seward was en-
tertaining some company who were
enjoying the fragrant cigars which IL
was his custom to pass around among
his guests. Almost unannounced, the
minister from Russia appeared and
said in an informal way: MIR. Seward.
my government is ready to accept
your terms. Russia will sell for ST.
100000. II convenient to you, / will
call at the State Department tomor.
row 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 sug-
gested that II would be necessary to
( light up the State Department and to
search the town for the several subor-
dinate officers whose presence would
! ne necessary.
What of that?" said Mr.. Seward.
Long afterward il was known that his
reason for this haste was his fear that
something might happen at any mo.
ment TO prevent the consummation of
the bargain.
AT midnight the State Department
presented an appearance which 1t had
not done since the days of the Civil
War Many Of it's windows cleaned
with light In Mr. Stewards office the
Russian minister and a few others as
sembled. The draft of the treaty was
made, the engrossing clerks put il in
to proper form. and as dawn was be.
ginning TO appear in the eastern sky
Mr.. Seward and those who had writ
ten the treaty which gave Alaska to
the United States departed Ia
snatch a few hours sleep before tho
department opened for business.
Copyright 1915. by e. J. Edwards
A