The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-12


from the jurisdiction Of the oppressive mo-
nopoly on the other side Of the line, he made
arrangements for establishing post here in
connection with the Outfit of the American
Fur Company at Mendoza, at the junction
Of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, and
in the following year, lS44, arrived at Penn
bina with the first American outfit ever es-
tablished in the Red River valley.
The first recorded journey from Red
River to the Mississippi undertaken with
commercial object, was in 1920, when the
exigencies of the Red River settlement
obliged them to procure supplies of seed at
Prairie du Chen. The details Of the voy-
age homeward, accomplished in Mackinac
boats, through the Minnesota and Red Riv-
ers, all the way by water except the narrow
portage OF mile and half between Lake
Traverse and Big Stone Lake, have already
been given. And the citizens of st. Paul
are familiar with the venerable form of Pc.
TER HAYDEN, who has until recently annual.
ly visited st. Paul, and who long before
Mr.. KIrrsoS established his post at PEN
bina. was in the habit of making occasional
excursions from the Selkirk settlement to
Mendoza, with droves Of cattle and cargOes
Of moccasins.
In connection with the earlier exploits in
this trade may be mentioned, also, the trip
made by ALEXIS BAnLY Esq, now citizen
of Wabashaw, in company with FRANCOIS
LABornE, now resident Of Nicolet county.
Mr.. BAILEY took herd of cattle and horses
to Red River, which were in great demand
at the colony at the time, and commanded
high prices. lie had several escapes from
Indian war parties, who stole all the horses.
Mr.. BAILLY sold mich cows at the colony
for 500 and Sl35 each, and other cattle in
proportion.
But the staple Of the country-fus-
formed no part Of these erratc ventures.
Ia these commodities the Hudson Bay
Company rigidly preserved their monopoly,
the least infringement of which was rigor-
ously punished. From the time Of the es-
tablishment of Mr.. kIrrsoN's trading post
in 1874, on the very edge Of their territory,
yet shielded from their animosity by the in
volatility of American soil and American
citizenship, they were compelled to witness
. constant encroachment on their monopoly,
without the possibility of preventing it.
The British hslfbrceds roamed unrestricted
over American Territory, gathering thou.
sands Of robes annually, on the Shayenne
and the Missouri to enrich the Hudson Bay
Company. International justice certainly
did not suffer, although the Company might
il furs procured on the Saskatchewan and
the Assineboin found their way gradually "a
the intrusive American post, on the frontier
The Company did what they could to break
up the new establishment. They even had
Mr.. kIrTsoN at one time arrested for a vio
lation of their charter, but discreetly failed
to bring any suit against him, which might
have tested its validity.
But partly in consequence Of the repres-
sive measures adopted by them, and still
more from the natural difficulty of attract.
ing trade from its established channels, the
first years OF this single handed competition
with corporation which in history Of two
hundred years, had worsted all its rivals
gave little promise Of the success which has
at later period attended its prosecution
The amount OF capital invested in the
first venture, in 1874, was only about $1,000
and the gross proceeds Of the furs collected
in return, scarcely exceeded 81 400. The
next two years operations involved slml-
lar loss, the proceeds Of furs collected in
1855 being only some $4,000, agnst an in
vcstmcnt 10 merchandise, &c, Of $1,000
and of furs in 1916. Of $4,000, against a
capital invested Of $4,000. From this time
however. the stream Of trade began to turn
in the direction Of the Mississippi valley
and to break over the artificial barriers in
terposed by the Company. Mr.. Krrrsos' 5
post grew in favor with the halfbreed set
tiers, who deserted in numbers from the ser.
vice Of the Company, TO receive their sup
plies from the American trader. In 1850
the trade had increased 50 as TO involved a
consumption Of goods to the extent Of go.
900, and it is probable that the proceeds in
furs were at least slj 1000. Five years Ia
ter, (n 1850 the Pembina outfit engaged
an expenditure Of $4,000, with a return IN
fars Of nearly $4,000.
The importance Of the trade a, this time,
seernei 10 demand n sueciAI depot al St