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In Alaska, there are just two seasons — this winter and next winter. |
Tag: Alaska
The Check That Paid For Alaska
With this check, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. For less than 2 cents an acre, the United States acquired nearly 600,000 square miles of what many considered to be worthless land. Oh boy were they wrong!
In 1866 the Russian government offered to sell the territory of Alaska to the United States. Secretary of State William H. Seward, enthusiastic about the prospects of American Expansion, negotiated the deal for the Americans. Edouard de Stoeckl, Russian minister to the United States, negotiated for the Russians. On March 30, 1867, the two parties agreed that the United States would pay Russia $7.2 million for the territory of Alaska.
For less that 2 cents an acre, the United States acquired nearly 600,000 square miles. Opponents of the Alaska Purchase persisted in calling it “Seward’s Folly” or “Seward’s Icebox” until 1896, when the great Klondike Gold Strike convinced even the harshest critics that Alaska was a valuable addition to American territory.
The check for $7.2 million was made payable to the Russian Minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl, who negotiated the deal for the Russians. Also shown here is the Treaty of Cession, signed by Tzar Alexander II, which formally concluded the agreement for the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
Joke Of The Day: The Pope In Alaska
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On a tour of Alaska, the Pope took a couple of days off to visit the mountains for some sightseeing. He was cruising along a campground in the Pope-mobile when there was a frantic commotion just at the edge of the woods. A helpless scrawny disheveled Democrat, wearing sandals, shorts, and a “Save the Whales” T-shirt, was struggling frantically, thrashing around and trying to free himself from the jaws of a 10-foot grizzly.
As the Pope watched, horrified, a group of Republican loggers came racing up. One quickly fired a 44 magnum into the bear’s head, dropping it instantly. The other two reached up and pulled the bleeding semiconscious Democrat from the bear, then threw it onto the bed of their (American made!) pickup truck while the other carefully placed the injured Democrat in the back seat, and gave him some much-needed water. As they prepared to leave, the Pope summoned them to come over. “I give you my blessing for your brave actions!” he told them. “I heard there was a bitter hatred between loggers and environmental activists, but I’ve now seen with my own eyes that is not true!” As the Pope drove off, one of the loggers asked his buddies, “Who was that guy?” “It was the Pope, you idiot!” another replied. “He’s in direct contact with God and has access to all God’s wisdom.” “Well,” the logger said, “he may have access to all God’s wisdom, but he sure doesn’t know anything about bear hunting. On that note, is the bait holding up OK or do we need to go back to town and grab another one?” |
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