The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-30
ALASKA'S SEMI-CENTENARY

This year, notables as the semi centenary of the launching of the Dominion oft Canada, also commem- orates the fiftieth anniversary of the purchase of Alaska by the United States. It was just fifty years ago today, on March 80, 1867, that the treaty was signed whereby the whole Russian possessions in America were ceded to the United States for a money payment of $7,200,000. This treaty was ratified by both govern ments the following June, and formal possession was taken by the United States in October.
 Alaskans have prepared a novel celebration of the territory's semi centenary, but the war has interfer- ed somewhat with the plans, which contemplate a series of exhibitions in the various cities and towns of the Northwest country. When this scheme was launched it was hoped that tourists and settlers might be attracted to Alaska from all over the world, and that a large number of these might be induced to cast in
 their lot with Alaska. In inviting visitors to Alaska the inhabitants do not promise anything wonderful in the way of exhibition palaces but they can and do promise wonders of na-
 tural scenery scarcely to be excelled elsewhere.
 At the time of the purchase of
 Alaska the sum of $7,200,0O0 was con-
 sidered by many Americans an ex- travagant price, and Secretary Se- ward, who engineered the deal for the
 United States, was denounced and ri-
 d | 1od
 Stewards Folly by the political en- emiesN of the administration responsi- ble for it's purchase. While all Amer jeans now realize that Seward was a
 man of wisdom and foresight, and that Alaska, by reason of it's exten-
 sfve gold fields, has been worth much
 more than was paid for it, there is still general tendency to look up- on the country as a frozen waste val
 uable only for it's mines. This is an erroneous view, for Alaska abounds in fertile valleys where agriculture
 may be profitably carried on, while it's forests are veritable treasure trove of future wealth.
 Alaska's development will be vastly
 accelerated by the railroad which Uncle Sam is now building, and which will open up the great mining fields,
 rich coal deposits, forest areas aand agricultural regions. Between three and four thousand men are now em- p1oyed in the construction of this line, which will free the inha bitants of the interior from the toll of high freight rates, and will make Alaska a land of opportunity for the small investor The hardy pioneers of Sourdoughland will be joined by thousands of tender feet when this line, All miles in length, is completed. The estimated cost of the road is about 5000, ,OO0,
 It will extend from Seward, on Res
 urrection Bay, to the interior metro
 polls of Fairbanks, near the Arctic Circle. The people or Fairbanks must now pay seventy dollars ton on all the freight coming in from the out side world.
 Alaska became Russian territory by right of discovery, although the Rus sian expedition was led by Dane, Vitus Boring. The Russians estab- lished themselves in Alaska in 1741, and in the latter part of the eigh- teenth century the territory was granted by Emperor Paul to a fur company. The agents of this com pany ruled Alaska until 1863, when it's charter expired. When the United l States took possession the fur trade was the only industry which had been | established in Alaska.