The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-22
The Hnd.0n's Hay Dspotation 10 Lord
Desby.

The Hnd.on's Hay Dspotation 10 Lord
Desby.
/ The deputation Of various Commercial
Societies Of Great Britain TO the Premier
which fTas- fJsu already noticed III the:sse col
umns, is fat aeeomrt, II included some
o. the most influential men Of Great Brit.
ain. Their memorial is for the most part a
repetition Of facts and arguments which
have already been abnndantly presented
from other sources but a. everything which
bears upon the physical characteristics and
natural resources Of this region is read with
interest by a multitude of readers, we re.
produce here an extract from the document
touching upon topics of this character
and indicating the direction Of British pol.
icy in this new field of enterprise
| 1t will be sufficient to observe that the
representations which have been 80 long and
~ iDdustriously disseminated, Of the value
less character Of the IIudson's Bay terrific
RIGS can no longer be sustained, and that in
proportion as accurate examinations Of the
country have been made, and reliable infor-
nation obtained from those who have no
interest in perverting the truth have its
value as field for emigration and the i'm.
portance OF its vast natural resources, been
conclusively established. Occupying an ex.
tent comprising one-half Of the whole con.
tincnt of North America, and nearly equal
TO the entire area OF Europe, and embracing
every variety of country, and climate, and
natural production, from the mild regions
bordering on the Pacific, with climate al
lowed to be superior to that OF the British
islands, to those which are washed by the
Polar Sea, there is scarcely any part of it
which may not, in some form, be rendered
available for commercial enterprise.
It's mineral and natalie wealth, to which
the recent discovery Of gold in British Ore
gon has given additional intcrest-the fish
cries along its coasts, Of which the Arctic
whalefishery alone, according to the recently
published report of the Secretary of the
United States Navy to the Senate, has, in
the short space Of two years, added eight
millions Of dollars to the national wealth of
rival statc-its agricultural capabilities
the herds OF buiIAloes and wild cattle which
pasture on the rich praries Of the Red
River and the Saskatchewan, from which an
important trade in tallow, hides and provis.
ions might be devcloped--ts intcrminabc,
forests Of the finest timber, and the tar, pitch
oil, feathers. ivory, and valuable minerals,
together with the highly priced furs and
skins of the wild animals, which are to be
procured in oil parts of the territory afford
a field tor the enterprise OF our manuiactar-
ers, capitalists, and merchants, from which
il would be- the hight OF injustice to exclude
them by any special legislation in favor OF
comparatively insignificant Corporation,
whose operations are avowcdly confined to
a petty traffic with the natives. scarcely al.
fording employment for three of four small
vessels annually, and whose CONSERVATION of
British manufactures for the supply of
half continent after an exclusive possession
for period OF two centuries, does moi equal
that of IL third-ratc mercantile house in any
leading commercial town OF Great Britain.
Already two associations. the Arctic
Whale Fishery and Trading Company" OF
London, and the " Northwestern 1ranspor.
tation and Land Company" Of Toronto, have
been announced in this country and 10 Can
ada, "a brief account OF whose objects we
bag herewith to present to your L.ordshipl
for the purpose of developing some of the
more Immediately available resources of this
extensive region, which has 40 long been per
mitted TO languish under the blight of an
unproductive and mischievous monopoly
and both associations have expressed their
determination of applying to her Majesty's
Government Tor a grant OF land to enable
them TO carry on their operations. 1t is
probably known TO your I.ordship that the
Legislatures Of the United States and OF
Canada, have each had recently under their
consideration, projects for what is termed
the Pacific Railway" to be carried partly
through British Territory, and that the for
mer has already made large appropriations
for this object; while the latter, after
careful consideration Of the practicability Of
the scheme. has also reported in its favor,
believing, in the language OF the Report
of the 30th Of August, 1857. I" that this
great work will, at some future period,
should this continent continue to advance
as heretofore, in prosperity and population
be undertaken by both Great Britain and
the United States" and adding the hope
that the Imperial Government will be led to
entertain the subject as one OF natural con
ceru and combine with il well organized
system Of colonization"