The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-31

Ventres; but after tho establisbment Of Fort
Bertbold tho Mandans and Gros Ventres re-
sorted thither. Mr.. Hodgkiss, very gen.
tlemanly and sensible man, has charge Of
the place. gsr So q ssa - ~ .ras -
FORT BERTHorD.
| Sixty miles further up, Is Fort Berthold.
the third trading post, where the Company,
for long series Of years, have resorted to
deal with the Indians; but buildings were
not erected until IL years ago, when it was
made permanent trading point with the
Gros yentres, after they had been driven
from near Fort Clark. The buildings are
perhaps, neater If such term be applica-
ble) than those at either of the other posts.
The bastions present better appearance,
and some of the houses are built Of cotton
wood and covered with shingles. Mr.. Mo
Eldery is in charge here.
Near this Fort is the favorite battle feld
where the Gros Ventres and MaDdans have
Sioux-in constant dread of whom they now
live.
FORT UNION.
Six miles above the Yellowstone river, and
23l5 miles from St. Louis, is Fort Union,
the fourth trading post. II was founded in
1928, BY the American Fur Company, then
under the control of John Jacob Astor.-
The buildings were constructed by James
kipp and MIR. Mckenzie. 1t is situated on
an extended prairie, in Minnesota, about
100 yards from the shore-is much the finest
looking place we have seen, being $50 feet
long by 325 wide, having at each corner in
front strong two story stone bastion, with
PORTFOLIOS to command the front and sides
Of the fort. Immediately in front of the
main entrance, and at the back of the fort,
is the main building, a two-story old fash
ioned cottage house, with large and comfort
able rooms, occupied by the officers. Toths
left as you enter, and near the front gate, is
another cottage building. On the right are
the houses for the working men, the car
penter and blacksmith shops, while on tho
left are the store-houses. Here they have
so head Of fine cattle, fully equal to our
Durhams and Devonshires in the States.
The land around looks very sterile, but
corn grows finely in good seasons, and po-
tatoes, turnips, beets and beans are said to
yield remarkably well. Hay in abundance
is also cut from the prairie bottom, near the
mouth of the Yellowstone.
The opposition company have their fort
ut the mouth of the Yellowstone; at every
other post their buildings are very near
those of the American Fur Company.
Mr.. Ritter, a very clever and fine business
man, is the Bourgeois or chief agent at this
post, and is assisted by his clerks, Messrs.
Roulette and LaBombard.
FORT BENTON.
Fort Benton, the last and best trading
point on the Missouri river, is 25 miles
above the mouth Of Maria river, and 800
miles from the head Of the Missouri. It
was founded in 1880, by Jas. Kipp, (who
has built every fort on the river, for the
American Fur Company, then under the
control of Astor, and came into the posses
sion of Pratt, Chouteau & Co., about 1887.
1t is situated on sloping prairie, 300 feet
from the river; is $50 fees square, and built
Of adobe bricks. Tho present fort was con-
structed IN lS4S, by Alexander Culbertson,
who still has charge of it. 1t is the best
trading point on the river, and furnished
last year 5000 buffalo robes, besides many
wolf and beaver skins. Medford Raisin is
first clerk there, and NJ. Champagne, a
aIf-breed, is an interpreter trader, and
quite an efficient man for the post.