The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-01-31
The udson's nay Company

The National inisiligenesr. OF a late date,
contains some interesting facts In regard to
ais monster L.onopoly. both in regard :, Its
origin and the extent Of its present business OPP
erations.
! In the year 1870. Charles IL. granted by roy
al charter to Prince Rupert and number Of
noblemen tract Of wilderness which compre
Lended nearly one half Of theNorth American
continent, add by the grantees was organized
the Hudsou's Bay Company, receiving its name
from the inland sea in the North, discovered by
Hudson. by the charter the grant was called
4" Rupcrt's Land" and was bounded on the
West by the Pacific ocean and the Russian
possessions, on the North by the Arctic sea,
on the East by the Atlantic, and on the South
by an imaginary line running up the st, law
renee and through the Great Lake toward the
setting sun. The objects contemplated by the
charter were to discover passage TO the South
sea, and to obtain furs, minerals aud other
commodities ; and so strongly was It wordcd
that II gave to the company this large terrific
rial manor in perpetuity and an exclusive right
Of trade forever. Stupcndous as was the gin
Of tho Grown Of England comprehending over
three millions Of square miles, its lawfuness
has never been questioned, but It has been
recognised by various official documents and
acts Of Parliament.
| In ls47 the capital stock Of the corporation
was E4OO 900, and the Number Of propretore
23S. Its affairs are managed by q governor
deputy governor. aud q committee OF seven,
and sus,ce, to their direction are variety Of
subordinate officers, such as chief factors, chief
traders. aud others with judicial powers. The
fur aud pcItry traffic Of the company is rcgu.
lated by what is termed deed poll. and the
expenses Of establishments are all raid out Of
the trade. The company have not, As some
suppose, monopoly Of the importation Of furs
and peltries in England, and sales are made by
public auction several times in each year at
the companys premises in London. In ls42
the company had l36 establishments. beside
hunting expeditions and shipping, Afordng
empiVyHSut W ~ SpNi saStoss, - SnNi un
ders, l52 clerks, and about 1900 regular SER
wants. beside the occasional labor 10 boating
aud other services Of great number OF the
natives. From the earliest times the profits Of
the company have varied with the caprices of
fashion, some years yielding tifty per cent. and
now aud then nothing at all but the average
profits for the last few years have amounted
only to about six per cent
In lsie the number Of church missionary
stations, in the Territory occupied by the Com
pany, was six. and Of schools seventeen. Con
siaering thu immense extent Of the Companys
territory, this does not appear TO be very ex'
travagant provision Cor the education and COZ
version Of the savagcs. The writer in the In
,ailigenco concludes tina, the influence exercised
by the Company over the indians. has been cd
yan,asvous to them and adds that the sale Of
intoxicating liquors Is strictly prohibited
throughout all the Companys territory.
The prohibition, we have no doubt, exists in
I" black aud white, bu, We do very much doub,
whether j, Is enforced at all times, and especial
ly when the cupidiy Of the agents Of the Com
pany prompts them to different course Of pol
icy in treating with the Indians. For instance,
a, Pembina, there are American trading es,ab-
lishmrnts. and across the hne the Company has
trading pests The inducemcns Of whisSry at
tracts most Of the Indians to the Companys
trading posts. to the grcat iuiary Of our traders
who do 10, yepd the ardent
With rsari to the Indian popula'ioo Of the
territories Of the Hpdson Bay Company, the
Iaisg'ss~u ays !, is impossible to make cur
rect estimate; but the tribes which n~egs upon