PAYING CASH FOR A CONTINENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 229, 24 November 1916, Page 6 (Supplement)

PAYING CASH FOR A CONTINENT.

HOW THE UNITED STATES EXTENDED ITS TERRITORY.

Telegram from Washington October 8, 1916.) — The Senate has ratified the treaty for purchasing the Danish West Indies for twenty-live million Hollars. Uncle Sam, who has just bought an odd sland or two from Denmark, is the world's champion real estate dealer. In five deals he has acquired nearly twothirds of his present entire territory, paying cash down on each occasion. And, very literalfy speaking, he got Ins lots "dirt cheap." One parcel, comprising six hundred million acres, of an area equal to Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain Portugal, and Italy combined, he picked up for a trifle over a penny an acre. Another transaction made him owner of 550,000 square miles of territory, at a cost of 50s. a mile. And this was not in the dim ages of Penn and the Puritans, but just fifty years 2-ZO . WHEN NAPOLEON REQUIRED CASH. The first person with a virtual continent to dispose of was no less a celebrity than Napoleon Bonaparte. From Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico, and fro mthe Mississippi westwards to the Rock Mountains, France formerly owned every inch of land, except what is now Texas. Napoleon sold, or gifted the lot—over a million square miles —at five farthings an acre. The sale was a supposed alternative to Great Britain getting the ownerpship for nothing. Much cold business, and more of romance, attached to this transaction. Both parties had reason to be anxious lest the deal should fall through. Money with which to strike a blow at Britain was Bonaparte's, prime reason for selling. Cash was badly needed to equip his armies of projected invasion, and at the moment the American colonies were perhaps the most realisable asset at his disposal. Moreover, preoccupied as he was elsewhere, he feared that Britain would send a force across the Atlantic to take possession of the territory, which would then be lost to France in any case. By selling to the United States he would both obtain much needed funds ,'tnd at the same time strengthen an already powerful maritime rival of this country.

Not quite such imperial motives actuated the other side. that the Americans sought was some cheap concessions concerning trade. Trappers and others had pushed westward to the Mississippi, down which stream they were wont to dispatch the skins and pelts of the chase. New Orleans, then as now the port of outlet, iwas entirely owned by the French, whom the Yankees feared would one day place an embargo on their business of export. Consequently, after strong representation had l>ec'U made, the American Government yielded to a .suggested purchase of the port and a tract of country surroundng it. THE MONIIOE DOCTRINE MAN HELPS. One million dollars was the price it was agreed should be offered, and James Monroe, father of the doctrine bearing his name, was dispatched to France to carry out the business. Before he landed, however, negotiations had already been opened by the American Minister in Pari?.

At this particular moment Napoleon was torn bv conflicting interests, and himself undecided what to do for the best. He knew that a sale of the territory —even of the smaller slice involved —would meet with strong opposition from many sections of his people. /In wished to keep and develop the colony, but the need of cash and fear of th n British ultimately outweighed this and other considerations, and he decided to sell. Moreover, instead of the patch in and around New Orleans, he intimated to the American Minister his desire to sell the lot. No doubt news of warlike preparations then going forward in this country assisted 111 the making up of his mind.

On the arrival of Monroe at Pari®, liis Ministerial colleague reported to liiiii how matters stood. Unless by n secret understanding, neither man had authority from li is Government to enter into the bargain for the entire territory, 1101: was there any time, in those days of slow sonimiinication, to seek advice and permission. Three million pounds was the stipulated purchase price, or about a penny farthing peaero, but this modest figure seems t.i have appalled the delegates, who felt certain that, whatever the President and Congress might do, the American people would never consent to the waste of their money. In the end. however, courage conquered, and at one strnke Uncle Sam more than doubled Ins territory. In passing, as ail interesting fact n American map-changing, it might be mentioned that this identical territory had been ceded to Spain in 17tj3, and ceded back again to Franco in As \apol 'on >-o!d it in 1--03. lie cannot lie accused of dilatory chance-taking i'l the matter. SPAIN* A SET,LEU. Sixteen years latt-r, in cash seeurod another territorial accession 1') the States, Florida being bought from Spain for live million dollars. Tt ; s ( urious to note that before making the j purchase the buyers had virtually to compier the country, and rid it of certain troublesome tribes whom the Spaniards hail tried in vain to subdue. I Similar circumstances attended tho

annexation, by both purchase and conquest, of Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, I"tali, and California, all of which were formerly claimed by or in actual possession oi Mexico. Texas, after various "annexations," ims bought for seven million dollars. At least this was the interpretation placed upon America assuming a debt to the amount named. Texas, it milit be said in passing, h;id previously revolted from Mexican rule, and set herself up as an independent republic. Equally moving was the manner i;i which the remainder of the territory now forming the States was bought ir bullied into possession. Up to 70 years ago the Americans possessed no land west, of the Rockies. Mexico held or claimed the entire mid-continent, including California, while the British diisputed possession of "what is now Washington and Oregon. Ultimately, in I >46, the two countries agreed to divide the latter between them, Britam taking the northern and the States the southern portion, the line of demarcation being as at present defined. CALIFORNIA FOUGHT FOR AND BOUGHT. Scarcely had this settlement been arived at when once again trouble arose with Mexico. In the opinion eminent Americans, this trouble was deliberately fomented in order to provoke the weaker neighbour into open resistance, and then, by way of punishment after defeat, to deprive her 7coveted lands, the possession of which would extend the States from ocean to ocean. Be this as i,t may, the pair went to wair; Mexico was beaten, and, for a consideration rather than conquest. she ceded the whole of her northern territory, including California, to the enemy. Fifteen million dollars was the price paid, though this included a sum in respect to the "final" settlement of Texan possession. Five years later, in 1853, ten million dollars were paid for a comparatively insignificant tract in Southern Arizona and New Mexico, this being by far the poorest land deal ever made by the States. Russia was the next "estate" sellc* to come along, disposing of Alaska and adjacent islands for a trifle of seven million dollars. For a popularly supposed "patch of snow and ice," this may appear rather a stiff price to pay. But once more astute Sam made a good bargain, for the fur exports alone from the region annually reach a figure almost halving the purchase money, though tlie proceeds, of course, do not flow into the national coffers. Gold, forests, and fisheries go far to make up the balance. So much for the newer portions ol the States. Very briefly, in conclusion, might be shown a specimen of older land acquisition. Manhattan Island, on which stands New York, was originally settled by the Dutch, a company of whom, in 1626, bought the surrounding land from its native owners. The price paid was twenty-four dollars worth of red cloth, brass buttons, and other trinkets. To-day this same "dlirt" is valued at a thousand million dollars 1