MORE LIGHT
ON PURCHASE
OF ALASKA
(Continued from Page Six)
$7,§25,000, less the banker’s commis
sion one-twentieth of 1 per cent;
that by direction of Baron Stoeckl
Mr. Riggs paid to Robert J. Walker,
who had been employed by Baron
^Stoeckl personally as counsel of the
Russian embassy in the case, a total
of “about $26,000 in gold,’’ and $5,000
to F. P. Stanton as assistant counsel,
as well as $3,000 to the Washington
Daily Chronicle for favorable articles
published. What became of the re
mainder of the $165,000 not remitted
to the Russian government the com
mittee did not learn, but the Rus
shtfi minister contended through other
wimesses that it was disbursed by him
in the payment of ordinary and legiti
mate expenses of the Russian em
bassy, including an item of $10,000
for one cablegram to St. Petersburg.
Baron Stoeckl did not appear before
the committee.
A minority report of the committee
censured Mr. Walker for having ac
cepted a retainer in so important a
public matter without making a pub
the Russian government, a draft for
fie statement of it, in view of the
public positions he had held as secre
tary of the treasury from 1845 to 1848,
and as a member of the United States
senate. This was the same Robert J.
Walker who was the author of the
Walker tariff bill of 1848.
Gives Russian Motive
Wl^le the newspaper charges of
wholesale bribery to the extent of
$2,200,000 turned out to be tremen
dous exaggerations, the congressional
investigation did establish that Baron
Stoeckl, the Russian minister, carried
on an active and successful campaign
at an expense of $165,000 to help ob
tain passage of the bill appropriating
the $7,200,000 stipulated in the Seward
Stoeckl treaty as the purchase price
of Alaska.
To the average mind that is con
clusive evidence of Russia’s eager
ness to sell Alaska, originating with
Russian statesmen during the Cri
mean war in 1856, when they decided
it wrould be impossible for Russia to
hSld her American possessions in a
future war with England. She pre
ferred that America, a friendly nation,
should be the new (^vner.
Ri^sia knew of Alaska’s value, hav
ing occupied it and profited from it
extensively for more than eighty
years, and she would not have been
likely to throw it jn for nothing to con
ceal the real purpose of a payment
for another object.
Fur Trader Promoted Deal
On the part of America all evidence
shows that the initiative in the pur
* gchase of Alaska was taken by Ameri
cans on the Pacific coast who had
been to Alaska and knew personally
/
of its wealth in fisheries and furs,
and that they were actuated - by no
motives of philanthropy or a return
favors to Russia.
Three years ago in i^os Angeies 1
discussed this point with Cornelius
Cole, who was x>ne of the United
States senators from California in
1867, and as such took a leading part
in furthering the purchase of Alaska.
He was in good health and clear mind
when I saw him, still practicing his
profession as a lawyer at the age of
93. His statement to me was substan
tially this: -
“The original and most active mover
in the plan to buy Alaska after the
civil war, reviving efforts that had
been dropped just before the outbreak
of that conflict, was an enterprising
Jewish-American promoter and fur
trader named Philip Goldstone of San
Francisco. He had been to Alaska on
fur-buying expeditions, and knew of
its great wealth, but he was mainly In
terested in its furs. He enlisted the
help of other Jewish gentlemen of Cali
foimia, and of several wealthy non
Jews, who, after the purchase of
Alaska, were grouped together in the
Alaska Commercial Company.
Aimed at Hudson Bay Company .
“Their first intention was to suc
ceed to the rights of the Russian
American Company, whose charter ex
pired in 1867, but on discovering that
the Hudson Bay Company, an English
corporation, was negotiating to take
over the rights, property and interests
^of the Russian company, they con
ceived the idea of our buying Alaska
outright, making it an American pos
session, and thereby shutting out the
Hudson Bay Company as a fur-trading
monopoly in Alaska such as it had
l
s.
grown to be in Canada.
“Mr. Goldstone and some of his as
sociates came to me in Washington
soon after I entered the senate and ex
plained the whole situation very fully.
I had heard much of Russian America,
as it was then called, for at that time
and for several years prior its cod
fisheries were important sources of
food supply for the mining camps of
California. So I readily favored the
plan to buy it. I took Mr. Goldstone
and some of his associates to see Mr.
Seward, the secretary of state, and
they laid all the facts before him.
“Mr. Seward was inclined to be
vain, and liked the impression to go
out that he was the originator of all
important policies handled through his
department. We agreed among our
selves that in order to enlist his ac
tive help we should make it appear
that he was the originator of the plan
to buy Alaska, and he played that
role all through the negotiations, but
at the same time Mr. Goldstone and
his associates from California were on
the ground directing the campaign as
inconspicuously as possible.
Two ents Cants an Acre
“Their motives were frankly com
mercial in the main, but they ren
dered a patriotic service to the na
tion which we are only beginning to
appreciate.”
Such are the unadorned facts about
the “Alaska scandal” of 1867, the pur
chase for $7,200,000 of a territory 565,
000 square miles in area, almost ex
actly 2 cents an acre, which has since
returned to the treasury and contrib
uted to the commerce of the United
States an outpouring of wealth in ex
cess of $700,000,000, with resources yet
but barely scratched, and capable of
supporting a population of 30,000,000
Americans in prosperity and happi
ness.
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PWHMWM j
CHAS. GOLDSTEIN & COMPANY
JUNEAU, ALASKA
“ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD—PAYING THE TOP OF THE MARKET*
In presenting the following quotations we want you to understand we pay
what we quote. If the market advances after the issuance of this circular
we give the shipper the benefit of the increase. Upon request we shall be
pleased to keep you advised of market changes. Bear in mind that because
of our policy of dealing directly with the trader and trapper we can afford
to, and do, PAY THE HIGHEST PRICES FOR FURS OF ALL KINDS
Black bear—No. 1 silky. $ 15.00 to $ 30.00
Coyotes Extra large No. 1. 20.00 to 25 00
Fox. cross-large dark. 75.00 to 125.00
Fox, red large dark . 40.00 to 60.00
Fox, white ... 50.00 to 65.00
Fox, blue—Prices vary according to color and quality;
^ prices average from. 75.00 to 200.00
Fox, silver—We have a big outlet for silver fox, and guar
antee top prices for same. Be sure to ship us your silver
foxes and we will show you wre are there with the
goods. Prices range from.. 150.00 to 850.00
Marten, dark and extra large No. 1. ^ 75 00 to 100 00
Fisher, large dark ....Z" 75.'oO to 125ff0
Mmk., extra large No. 1 dark._. 12.oo to 16.00
Muskrat, fall Alaskan, large No. 1. 1 5q to 9 00
Lynx, extra large No. 1.ZZZZZZ” 40ff0 to 60iM>
Land otter (Interior* ... 30.00 to 40.00
Land otter (Coast) . 20.00 to 27.50
White weasel, large No. 1... 1 25 to 2.08
Wolf, large No. 1, cased ...ZZ”. 25’oO to 30 00
Wolf, large No. 1 open. 18.00 to 25.00
Wolverine, large dark . 20.00*to 25.00
Prices above quoted are all for No. 1 best grade furs. Lower grades, in
cluding pale skins, priced in proportion.
WE ARE THE LARGEST DEALERS IN RAW AND MANUFACTURED
FURS IN THE NGRTIPWEST, and all we ask of you, Mr. Shipper, is to give
us the chance of a trial shipment and we will convince you that we pay more
fOT furs and make quicker returns than you can get anywhere in the country.
We hay e been in business in Alaska for 36 years and have built up a very
extensive trade. We sell manufactured furs in all parts of the United States.
Canada, and in a great many European cities.
By shipping to us you are not only helping an Alaska industry but you are
helping yourself to build up a business that belongs to Alaska.
We eliminate the middleman entirely, as wre buy direct from the trapper and
trader an£ sell direct to the consumer; thus we are able to pay you a better
£ZZthaii you eas get else^iiere. WE MAKE RETURNS THE SAME DAY'
SHIPMENT IS RECEIVED.
If so desired, when your shipment amounts to $100 or more, w^e will wire our
bid, and if not entirely satisfactory .you may wire at our expense and we will
ship to any place you designate.
All we ask of you is to be fair with yourself as well as with us, and make us
a trial shipment; the result will make you a steady shipper
References: Any bank in Alaska, the B. M. Behrends Bank, Juneau; National
Bank of Tacoma, Tacoma, Wash.; Dexter Horton National Bank of Seattle.
- n _
p- - . ...—»...»ii..iuiiuMiiiuuuiuniuMiiiiiumuiifMuiiui;uiMnii.7mii,i> ‘ n^rr:
| Oil Rush j
( Has Started f
| Come to Clayson’s and we will be |
| glad to show you whatever you §'
| need in the line of Outing Clothes jj
jj and Rubber Footwear for your trip I
I W. CLAYSON |
jj THE CLOTHIER j|
hw———BBB nmuHnini?
-.. -.. . '■ -- ■—
T. N. HUBBERT
MERCHANT TAILOR
Up-to-date equipment for all .
kinds of cleaning. Suits ftored
free. Drop your clothes in the
bundle drop at side door any
time, or phone 130 and we will
. call.
*
to
..."•
| .g j
III J g j
|I “A Letter Fn >m ||
j| America” J|
| j is always received with joy 11
■ | by the folks abroad, and 11
11 right now is a good time to | §
11 slip into the letter an extra 31
11 surprise in the form of a lit- | 1
|| tie bank draft, because you 11
11 get more foreign money for j1
11 U. S. dollars than ever be- 1 jj
i i f°re- 11
11 • We handle drafts on all ||
11 parts of the world. 11
|| The First Bank of II
11 Cordova
jj jj DEPOSITARY FOR U. S. P08TAL SAVINGS FUNDS II fj
n= ^ ^ j
S _-1 " . --
YOUR FURS MADE TO ORDER 1
Best work guaranteed. Low
est prices. Over 2,000 Alaska ;
customers.
R. W. Drew
Tacoma's Expert Furrelr
11th and B’dw’y, Tacoma, Wash.
Cordova
Adjustment
Company
K. G. ROBINSON, Mgr.
Collections, Reports,
Insurance
Ostrander Bldg., Cordova, Alaska
SMITH &
M’CONAGHY
Plumbers and
Steamfitters
i
COR. FRONT and B STS.
NORTHWESTERN CLEAN- j
INC AND DYEING HOUSE
TAILORING
All kinds of Repair Work. Fancy
Garments a Specialty. All Work
Guaranteed. Goods cajled for and
delivered
L. LEEN
Next to Hegg’s, on C St.
Telephone 190
___
BUILDING MATERIAL8 OP
ALL KIND8
Brick and Lime
CORDOVA MILL AND
LUMBER CO.
\
He
—— __
I
This Is the Best Time to Have Your
WATCH REPAIRED
So that you can start the New Year with
the Correct Time
\
—■■ ■ __ •
PAUL BLOEDHORN
PHONE 2—2—3
__
Good Printing
A Specialty at lie C ailv lints C ffice