MORE LIGHT
ON PURCHASE
OF JlLASKA
John E. Ballaine, formerly of Sew
ard, contributes the following interest
ing, contribution to Alaska history
which is taken from a recent issue of
the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
In the chapter of Ezra Meeker’s
k '‘Fifty Years of Progress,” which was
quoted on the editorial page of the
Post-Intelligencer recently, the vener
able pioneer, giving some of the rea
sons for the purchase of Alaska, men
tions first on the list the appearance
of the Russian fleet in New York har
bor at a critical period of the civil
war, which was interpreted on both
sides of the Atlantic as a warning to
France and England not to recognize
the Confederacy. This episode, as
Mr. Meeker truly says, left a lasting
impression of friendship in the minds
of the people of the United States,
and the purchase of Alaska, he im
plies, without stating it as a fact, was
really a return for favors to balance
the coming of the Russian fleet.
Calls Story Fiction
That same circumstance has been
used by other historians and by news
paper and magazine writers for the
last twenty years as furnishing the
solution of the mystery back of our
payment of $7,200,000 in gold coin for
the purchase of a distant region that
was then generally believed to be a
barren waste of ice and snow, at a
iime when the treasury of the United
States wras all but empty and govern
ment securities were selling below
par. According to these authors the
United States desired or had secretly
obligated itself to reimburse Russia
fQr the timely arrival of the Russian
fleet, and Alaska wras thrown in a*s a
blind to conceal the real purpose of
the payment.
The story makes pleasant reading
and has gained wide currency; but it
is like some other notable instances of
pleasant reading that have found
places in history—it belongs to fiction
instead.
I happened to be in Washington, D.
U.. several years ago wdien this ver
sion of reasons for the purchase of
Alaska was published in one of the
magazines with a good deal of cir
cumstantial detail. Interested as I
was in Alaska and Alaskan enterprises,
and knowing from first hand about the
■variety an dextent of its resources
and the magnitude of its possibilities,
I decided to ascertain the real facts.
I inquired of Elihu Root, then secre
tary of state, whether the state depart
ment had in its archives any docu
ments or data, secret or otherwise,
which might make a foundation of
fact, or even of inference, for the
story. He assured me there was noth
ing whatever to warrant it.
Report Forgotten
I afterward made a search in the
Congressional library and in the li
brary of the government printing of
fice for original data on this phase of
the Alaska purchase. The most valu
able of the illuminating documents I
found in thi ssearch was a long-forgot
ten report on a congressional investi
agtion made in 1869 by the house com
-nuttee on public expenditures into ru
mors of a corrupt use of money by the j
—————————— 111
Russian minister, Baron Stoeckl, in
securing the passage of the bill au
thorizing the payment of the purchase
price as stipulated in the Seward
Stoeckl treaty. This report had lain
buried in the government printing of
fice for forty years or more. I have
failed to find it or any reference to it
in any history of Alaska or in any
article dealing with the purchase of
Alaska. The investigation seems to
have been the sensation of the day,
and then to have passed silently into
oblivion.
The official title of this document
is “Report No. 25, Alaska Investiga
tion, Fortieth Congress, Third Ses
sion.” The date is February 27, 1869.
It is out of print now, except as it
appears in the Congressional Record
of the Fortieth congress. I managed
to buy a copy from the government
printing office by paying for a large
volume of miscellaneous documents on
other subjects with which it was in
cluded.
Newspaper Quoted
The occasion of the investigation,
as shown by the committee report, was
the publication of an article from
Washington in the Worcester (Mass.)
Spy, the editor of which was a mem
ber of congress, to this effect in part:
“Of the $7,200,000 in gold voted for
Alaska, the amount it is now reported
Russia actually got was $5,000,000 in
gold, about £1,000,000 sterling. Thig
leaves $2,200,000 to be accounted for.
t But with regard to the outside ring,
the third house—the press, editors and
correspondents—it is reported that
above $300,000 in greenbacks was
spent among them. Mr. Riggs, a
banker here, is said to have obtained
from the secretary of the treasury, just
at the close of the debates which ter
minated in the purchase of Alaska, a
loan of the amount specified.”
The article continues a column in
length, telling where the money was
spent—among newspaper correspond
ents and to newspapers in several of
the big cities, as well as to lobbyists.
Mr. Riggs, the article states, was the
fiscal agent for the Russian minister,
and paid out the money for him as
agent. The implied meaning of it all
was that Russia by corrupt means had
sold to the United States a worthless
waste for a fabulous amount, part of
which amount it had used in accom
plishing its unholy designs.
The committee report mentions sim
ilar articles as having been published
about the same time in many other
newspapers.
Where Money Went
The findings of the committee,
unanimously signed, showed that of
the $7,200,000 appropriated, Mr. Riggs,
as agent for the Russian minister, re
mitted to London for the account of
(Continued on Page Seven)
PUBLIC HEALTH NOTICE
As the “flu” exists in all Alaska
coast towns, the g'eneral public is
hereby warned to take every neces
sary precaution to prevent the spread
of the disease. Any person who is
taken suddenly ill, suffering with a
frontal headache, high temperature or
pains throughout the body, shonld re
pair to their rooms at once and call
a physician. In all places where sus- -
picious cases may exist a strict <]usr
antine must be maintained. \ny per
son desiring inoculation against the
“flu” may be vaccinated free of charge
at my office from 8 to 5 p. m. each
day. DR. W. H. CHASE,
16-6t City Healtji Officer.
15 DAYS ONLY
' ■ I T
*
Special Sale
Special Sale at Rawson’s in all lines of
goods from pins to pencils. The proof
of the pudding is the eating, and the
proof of the right prices on the goods at
this place is by coming in and finding
out. * / ,, ,<|
REMEMBER, 15 DAYS ONLY, AT
r I «
i1 —
»
— ---:
!
OUR DRUG SIGN
Indicates the
Home of Good Quality, Courteous
Service and Accuracy
Our stock includes everything of merit in Pro
prietary Medicines, Toilet Articles, Perfumes,
Shaving Necessities, etc. You will find our
prices as low as good merchandise permtis.
WE SOLICIT YOUR TRADE
northernIrug CO.'
“THE DRUG STORE OF ALASKA" |
“SERVICE” is our motto
f
1
~ i " JL—'■ - , . . ...-■J! -- .. ^1
ALASKA TRANSFER COMPANY
I
; ( \
TRANSFER AND STORAGE
COAL AND WOOD
AUTO SERVICE
DAY OR NIGHT
Office, Northern Hotel Bldg. Phone 85
i _ . _
---—;
I Light, Wati r |
| T lephone |
s ■• 4
:$■
§ Three essentials in every well-regulated • |
1 home or place of business 1
i i
| Alaska Public Utilities |
I *_ I
I i
1 One Hunt! td Per Cent American I
I I
?:• ---—— |r
Alaska
Steamship Company
Regular Sailings Between Seattle, j
Ketchikan, Juneau, Cordova, Valdez,
Ellamar, Liscum, Latouche, Seward
from Seattle— sails south—
FEB. 10. ALAMEDA .I.FEB. 18
FEB.£0. ALASKA ...FEB. 28 !
FEB. 29. ALAMEDA .MAR^N 8
Frequent sailings of freighters carrying explosives.
This schedule subject to change without notice. 1
F. B. TRACY, Agent 4
rn^v-^
Alaska—Washington—California ALASKA ROUTE j
8afety Courtesy Service Speed t* 9
OFFICE EMPRESS BUILDING |
WEST BOUND 90UTH BOUND
LEAVE CORDOVA LEAVE CORDOVA
EVANS, MARCH 3 WATSON, FEB. 28
WATSON, MARCH 13 EVANS, MARCH 7
Evans calls at Valdez, Latouche and Seward
L. A. COUNTS, AGENT Res. Lathrop Apts.
Phones: Office 223, Residence 223—2 rings. ..
.- '—- _■■
1 iopperRiv rand j
N irthw stern Ry,
Trains leave Cordova for Chitina Monday and Thursday.
Trains leave Chitina for Kennecott Tuesday and Friday.
Trains leave Kennecott for Chitina Sunday and Thursday.
Trains leave Chitina for Cordova Tuesday and Friday.
Dining Car in Connection with all Regular *
Passenger Trains between Cordova and Chitina.
' Freight received and delivered at Cordova
Wharf from 9 a. m. to 5 p m., except Sundays.
Tickets on sale at Second Street Depot office
one hour before departure of trains.
CALEB CORSER Suj >erintendenT jj
1 FRANK BURNS, TICKET AGENT
-*-“-““-'---*----*--- -----"~r
THE NORTHERN CLUB f
FRED HAEF, PROP.
POOL, CARDS, TOBACCO
, Soft Drinks of All Kinds *
The Popular Corner
PHONE 47 CORDOVA, ALASKA
FRED M. SCHAUPP
SANITARY PLUMBING '
Steam-Fitting, Marine Pipe and Tank Work
Sheet Metal Work
SECOND STREET, NEXT DOOR TO FEDERAL JAIL
PHONE 72
*
Sixty Steam-Heated Rooms, Electric-Lighted
Hot and Cold Water in Every Room
With or Without Bath
Cordova House
DOOLEY & GREENIG
! «
Headquarters for Railroad and Mining Men
Satisfaction Guaranteed :: Rates Reasonable
L--—.