The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-06-08
BUYING OF ALASKA
GOOD INVESTMENT
Judgment Of Man Who Engi-
neered Deal Fifty Years Ago
Has Been INDICATED.
WEALTH IN NORTHERN empire
To Have Neglected Opportunity to
Obtain Territory Would Have
Been Colossal Blunder, Says
Secretary Lane.

"Fifty years ago." says Secretary
Lane of the United States department
Of the interior, ALASKA became q part
Of the United States.
1--WE are only beginning to realize
how tremendous the service was that
William III. Seward performed when he
secured for us that great source of
wealth. When Seward was secretary
of state, few men realized the great
potential value of Alaska. Popular i'm
preston held 1t snOw-bOund wilder
ness, land Of Ice and polar bears.
Seward felt that the time would come
when the wealth of Alaska would as
tound the world. His judgment today
is vindicated
Opposition to the taking Of Alaska
was as blind as 1t was virulent. But
after fifty years, actual financial state
ments show us, and prove concluslvely,
that to have neglected that opportun-
lity would have been colossal blum
der, a blunder future generations could
never forgive.
"a moral obligation was one of the
primary reasons that led to the pur-
chase of Alaska. Russia had given
us the passive support of two fleets of
warships during our Civil war, and
saved us from serious lndlgnltles that
threatened from abroad Russia need
ed money. We, Of course, could not
give 1t to her outright, but we could
let her have 1t and take In exchange
her barren North American provinces.
In the face of storm of protest the
treaty was signed and fully ratified
the Russian ambassador collected ST.
100000 from Uncle Sam; and Alaska
edged her way into protesting and
lnhosplt0ble democracy.
Cost Two Cents an Acre.
"Six hundred thousand square miles
of territory, S4,000000 acres Of land,
were bought by our government in
1867 for little over $7,000,000. That
little fller In real estate, at 2 cents an
acre, has brought something more than
three-quarters of n billion dollars into
the channels Of American trade dur
ing the past half century. And the
profits are just beginning to come In.
A scant 65,000 people are living in that
vast country, one-tlfth as large as the
United States. One hundred million
dollars out of that three-quarters Of
billion formed their contribution for
1916. What 1t will be in 2028 no man
can predict. ....
at is estimated that 10000, ,000, 900
tons of coal lie in the virgin coal
fields of Alaska. This coal Is gradual
ly appearing In the market. Experts
say some of the best coal in the world
streaks the giant mountains of Alas
ka. With these mines opened, with
the new government railroad In ac-
tive operation, the development of
great and rich tracts both mineral and
agricultural, will follow inevitably.
"The great gold fields of the in
terror never have been worked ade-
quately. Extended the advantages of
railroad transportation, mine opera
tors Will soon be able to increase their
output materially.
Copper Fields Untouched.
Cooper mined last year brought be-
tween $S5,00o,o00 and $4,000, 900; and
still comparatively little has been
taken out.
"When Russia sold Alaska In 1867,
she threw in the surrounding seas for
good measure, Since then great
masses of fish caught In Alaskan wa
ters have brought our people S2S0,000,-
900, Each year sees the establishment
of new centers and larger canneries.
Fur-bearing animals, too, have In
crensed our mighty dividend by $685.
100000.
"Alaska's period of trial is over.
She has been weighed In the balance
and found magnitlcently worthy"