The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-11

not only the paramount, but the sole business
interest. The population of the territory WAS
composed almost entirely of its employers and
attaches. ST. Paul derives its whole import
ance a small importance then) from being the
depot Of the Winnebago and Chippewa outfits;
while Mendoza, the seat of the Sioux outfit,
gave laws to the immense region occupied by
the Dakotas, and chains Of trading posts as far
as Lac qui Parle, on the Minnesota, and Penn
bina on the Red River, held the whole coun-
try, like a dependent child, at the feet of the
magnates Of the principal agencies of Pierre
Choeau jr. Il Co. The profits of the fur trade
even then had begun to decline. The influx
Of a white population consequent upon the
establishment of a territorial government-the
increase of competition in the Indian trade,
concurring with the gradual decrease of its
products, and causes that lay beyond these,
and that have been gradually but surely pro-
noting the decline of the western trade in
general-a!l contributed to weaken the effic-
ency OF the fur company's organization in our
territory, and to render it undesirable to main
tain its expensive establishments any longer
than was sufficient for settling its affairs 1t
has, according y, had no practical existence
since the consummation Of the Sioux treatyin
1852, from which the traders received part
ing token of several hundred thousand dollars
in payment of the accumulated back debts of
some thirty years. Since then the trade has
been carried on entirely by private individuals,
foremost, among whom, however, are some Of
the old traders. Two houses alone, Messrs.
Forbes u kittson, and Messrs. CuIyer & Far
rington, connected at this time with the fur
trade in this city. The disorgansation Of the
Indian trade on the Minnesota river. and the
diversion of the Indians from hunting by the
pernlclous system Of annultles, has vastly di-
mnshed the productiveness of the fur trade on
the Minnesota river.
The trade is almost entirely limited at pre-
sent to the Penbla or Red River regions, and
are around the head waters of the Mississippi
The buffalo robes come almost entirely from
this source, the buffalo ranges being restricted
to the region north of the Cheyenne, and west
Of the James river. The Minnesota river coun-
try has fallen off in butfa!oes very considera-
blythe whole receipts for export from that
region not amounting to more than 200 robes.
This does otincude however, the large num-
bers reserved for home consumption The ta-
be given below, for which we are indebted to
n W. Kittson, esq, exhibits the total exports
Of furs from St. Paul. for the present year,
81, 299 rats, s11, ,572 Sc; 8.276 minks, SIT
62l; 1,428 martins, $3.50; 1,O45 fishers,
81, 7O9 5O 876 red foxes, 81 ,O95; 3, 400 coons,
So, $50; 10 wolverines, 1875; 562 badgers SOL;
2,O32 wolves, S3,O48; 4O5 otter, 81 All Sc;
585 beavers, (bs.) 1889 dollars; 9 $40 kit
foxes, one thousand seventy-one dollars; 61O
bearskins, six thousand seven hundred dollars:
90 cross fox, one hundred dollars; silver fox,
four hundred dollars; 50 lynx, one hundred
op1 fuap I,1,rc. ~
thousand two hundred dollars. Total, ninety
six thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars
and fifty cents
A notable feature of the fur trade for the
several years past, is the gradual but sure de-
cline Of its productveness-correspo with
a growing demand in Europe and our own coun2
try for turs. Each of these causes has assisted
the other to enhance the price of furs-and
they have grown exEenslve-and all these
causes concurred to lift to figure last year
they never before reached in the American
market. Nevertheless, it will not do to ca!cu-
late too surely on last years prices for the
products of the present year, as the consump-
ton Of lurs is, after ALL entirely dependent on
the eVanescent caprlces Of fashion.
AN AMERICAN G1RL-Two or three weeks
ago several deserters from the British troops,
stationed at Kingston, made their way across
Wolf island and the ST. Lawrence to the U S.
Some Of them were badly frozen on their way
and one was taken in and cared for by Pluches,
on Carlton island within the Jurisdiction of the
United States. On the 29th ut, a British Off
Ger, with file of men, came upon the island
and endeavored to persuade the deserter to 60
back to Kingston promising that he should not
be punished. He refused. and the officer de-
termned to take him by force. Mr.. Pluches,
with one Of his hired men, was absent Another
man was chopping wood at the door, and Mrs
Pluches and two daughters were in the house
The women sent the man off after Mr.. P. and
his companion, and soon afterwards the officer
ordered the deScrtcr to be brought out
Five soldiers rushed into the house, but the
others were prevented from entering by the
eldest daughter, who dashed the fifth man
back as he entered, and he rolled upoh the
ground outside. She then closed the door and
locked it, and taking her position before it, de-
ciared that if the four who were left inside took
the deserter out, they would have to pass over
her dead body. By this time Mr.. Puchcs and
bis men were seen returning, and the officer
out doors called for his men to come on! and
run. The thing was easier said than done,
however, as the brave girl maintained her cost,
and it only on a solemn promise being
given by them to observe the laws and respect
the soil of the United States in future that tho
imprisoned soldiers were released, and with
their officer allowed to beat hasty retreat.
FACTORY L1FE.-The Boston Bee has the
following description of the factory life of the
northern "operatives:'' There is a sickness,
loss of constitution and very lingering disease.
brought on by the necessary modes Of factory
life-by its confinement and contact with un-
wholesome dust-by the i'll ventilated sleeping
apartments of the operatives The natural ef
feet Of life in factory is to take the color from
the cheek, to give pale, worn and sullen look,
to produce disease incident to the female sex,
and hasten into activity any latent or constitu-
tional predspostion to the disease. From care
ful inquiry and examination of the operatives
We find the following result OF 25 persons
averaging 81 years, 90 said their health was
not SO good in the factory as before; in another
case 4 operatives of Is examined, declared
they suffered by working in the mill. In still