Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-12-30
HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.

A hundred and forty years ago, or more
Charles II. chartered the "Hudson's Blv
Company" and give ii exclusive privileges
of establishing trading factories on Hudson's
Bay, and lis tributary rivers. Ii took pos
session of lis territory, and enjoyed its trade
without opposition, till 1877, when rival
company, the '.North American Fur Com.
pany Of Canada," sprung up. This latter
was composed entirely of Canadians, aad
was noed for lis energy and enterprise
The Jealouses naturally arising between
rivals. led to the most barbarous bat.les,an
burning of each others posts. In 1891,
Parliament interfered and consolidated them
into one, under the title of the "Hudson's
Bay Company" They occupy a vast coun-
try, and their operations are those of vast
monopoly. All the British possessions north
OF the Canadus TO the Arctic Ocean, are
their hunting and trapping ground. They
have leased for twenty years from 1910, all
OF Russian America, excepting The post of
Siika. Thus this powerful company con
tro. more than one-ninih Of the soil of the
Globe. Its capitalists are in England, and
lis board of managers transact their business
at the Hndson's By House, in London.
This board buy all their goods, and ship
them TO the territory, sell the furs. and tran
sact all the afairs of the Company, excep,
the actual business Of collecting furs in
their territory. The annual value Of their
pellries is about million Of dollars. The
Tel profits ofihe fur trade is The he.
shares of the Company's stock, which origi-
naly cost one bundled pounds are at one
! hunred per cent premium, and dividends
range from ten per cent upwards, and this.
too, while they are creating immense funds,
TO be expended in keeping other persons
out ofthe trade.
In ISL the American Pacific Fur Com
pany, o! which John Jlcob Asior was the
prime mover, built Fort Astoria, near the
mouth of the Columbia. In 1913, during
the last war, this American Company sold
all lis establishment in Oregon TO the Brit
lsb Companv-now the iIuison's b Com
pany. In the same year British Sloop of
war entered the Columbia, and formally took
possession of Fort Astoria, and changed S
name to Fort George. In 1913, by the
treaty of Cheat. England surrendered this
Fort 10 our government. Then il WIS by
the same treaty, that British subjects were
granted The same rights ottrade aud settle
ment in O.egon as belonge TO the CITIZENS
of this republic, for ten years. In 1927,
this stipulation was Indefinitely extended,
and canno, cease TO be in force till after
twelve months notice.
This is the manner in which the Hudson's
Bay Company came into Oregon. TIC val
ne offiIrs which are annually collected in
Oregon by this Company, is about $40,
900 in the London market Parliament ex-
tend ed the jurisdiction of the Canada Courts
over the country occupied by these far ira
dcrs, whether it were owned or or claimed
by Great Britain. Uuder tbs act, certain
gentlemen of the Fur Company were APP
pointed Justices. and empowered 10 enter
tain prosecutions for minor oilcnders-1r-
rest and sent to Cana Ia criminals of high
er order and TO try, render jld cement. and
grant execution in civil suits, and imprison
debtors in their forts and Iails.
So it is lint he trade. and the civil and
criminal jurisd elton in Osegon, are held by
British subjec;s-teat American citizens are
deprived by a monopoly OF their rights
that they are liable to be arrested on their
own territory by Officers ofthe B!itiah Cour S
tried in the American domain by Brit So ud =
es, imprisoned or hung, for acts done with
in the juris iictin of our own Republic.