26 CLAIMS TO THE NORTHWEST COAST. 



CLAIMS TO THE NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA. 



Eariv compcti- While the title of Russia to the territory north 

 ot^coasVofTmei" ^^^^^ west of, and including, the peninsula of Alaska 

 was universally recognized, her claim to the 

 Northwest Coast of the American continent, by 

 which term it is intended to designate the coast 

 between Prince William Sound and the mouth of 

 the Columbia River, was earnestly disputed by 

 more than one powerful nation. During the 

 latter part of the last century and the early 

 years of the present. Great Britain, Spain, and the 

 United States were competing with Russia by 

 way of exploration, trade, and colonization for 

 the possession of the Northwest Coast of America. 

 t.itiou.^'s"iMement ^s early as 1741 Tcherikof, a Russian Cap- 



ali Kadiak Island. , . ■, i~» • i i • •; i ii , 



tain under Uering s command, visited the coast 

 in about latitude 55° N.;^ but the earliest per- 

 manent settlement east of the Aleutian Chain was 

 made at Kadiak Island in 1784 by Shelikof,^ an 

 enterprising merchant, who afterwards laid the 

 foundation for the Russian American Company. 

 A trading post, dwelling houses, and fortifications 

 were erected and a school established. Later, 

 cruises were undertaken from Kadiak to the ad- 



* Miillor's Voy:ij>es, map (frontispiece). 



* Coxc, p. 207 et acq. 



