Paying for Alaska by Check

Fascinating. Michael Locker MD

On March 29, 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward and Russian Minister to the United States, Baron Edouard Stoeckel completed the first draft of the treaty. It said that Russian America was now property of the United States. The next morning, before the senate vote the treaty was signed. Cassius M. Clay, United States Minister to Russia, claimed Alaska was worth over million dollars. But the United States bought Alaska for 7.2 million dollars. That's less than two cents an acre. Even though the senate vote was 37 to 2 many U.S. citizens thought the purchase was a mistake. They called it "Steward's Folly." This was a very promising beginning for Alaska, it was then claimed the nation's ugly duckling.

Who authorized this payment?

I wish the picture were clearer. I still don't know to whom the check was written and who signed it. The impression is the face of the check was written all over. Was there writing on the back that leaked through?

This is amazing. Paying for a territory by check! Whoever lost Alaska really made a big mistake.