The Daily Alaska empire., 1927-10-19
MEMORIAL HAS
 SIGNIFICANCE
 FOR ALASKANS
Real Significance Is Point ed Out in Sitka Speech
 of Gov. Parks

The monument marking the spot where the actual transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States has more than an histori- cal significance, declared Gov. George A. Parks in his address yesterday at Sitka when the memorial was unveiled.
 It should serve to remind Alas kans. he added. "of the privileges We enjoy and the responsibilities we have assumed as citizens of the, United States
 Address Is Brief
 The Governors address was short but contained in concise form an outline of the details of the transaction. He said in par:
 We are assembled to dedicate 2 this memorial erected by the Territory of Alaska to commem. crate the formal transfer of the Territory from Russia to the United States on October IS, 1867.
 The history of the negotiations which preceded the purchase of the territory, extending as they did over period of about 13 years, are so well known that it is unnecessary to recite them .n detail at this time. However, a brief outline of the transactions may be of interest.
 Deal Started in 1854
 "The negotiations were opened in 1854 when Russia, inspired by fear of Great Britain, offered to sell Alaska to the United States. This offer was declined and some years later the United States of fered to purchase the territory for $y,000.000. but Russia refused t6 accept this sum. At intervals thereafter those who were inter ested attempted to renew the ne- gotiations, but the Civil War oc- cupied the attention of the U. S. and nothing definite was done lin- til some years later. Finally at 400 a. m.. March 30, 1867, the treaty was signed and on the same day sent to the Senate for ratification. It remained there subject to many long debates un- til April 10th, when it was rati- fled and sent to the President who issued the proclamation June 20, 1867.
 Difficulties in Congress
 Even greater difficulties then arose because Congress objected to the appropriation of the pur- chase price and a controversy arose over the question of cable tolls. However, the cable com pany reduced the charges and the United States agreed to pay the bill. After all of these matters had been adjusted. arrangements were made for the formal trans fer of the territory.
 "It is difficult for us to under. stand, accustomed as we are to read of appropriations involving many millions of dollars, why Congress should hesitate about appropriating the purchase price, but we must remember that at the close of the Civil War the treasury of the United States was depleted and we were confronted with great national debt. Lack Of Information
 We cannot conceive why the United States should have hesi. tated to accept the offer made by Russia and 1t is equally difficult to comprehend why Russia should be willing to sell such . vast do main. We may. to some extent, appreciate the attitude of the two countries if we pause and con slider how very little was known about the territory at that time The only information available was contained in the. records of the early explorers and the Rus. sian American Fur Company, and their activities had been confined chiefly to the coastal regions. It is not strange that both nations considered Alaska to b6 of little value. When we consider the question from this view point we are able to epprecidte the broad vision and copraee displayed by Honorable Wiliiam H. Seward Senator Sumner, and others when they insisted on tho purchase of the territory.
 we can un1 1fStnnd- how Con gress must he1e viewed the ac quisition e Vnot was thsn con
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