The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-15
NEW SERIES--NO. l4l.

| Commons has made searching inquiry.
Publishing the testimony aud documents in
a voluminous l,luo Book. into tho Con
stituton and management Of tho Company.
While on that committee friends and even
incorporators of the Company were pr0min-
entity represented, yet the interests Of colo
nixation were well guarded by tho well
known radical leader. Roebuck aud others.
Perhaps there is no commercial enterprise
OF Great Britain that cnlsts In u greater
degree the interests Of the British nobility
than the lIudson's BAY Company. Its
shares are held In very influential quarters,
otherwise there would have been no question
as to the result. The incorporators became
themselves alarmed ana In tho hope Of
saving their charter. have themselves pro
posed to give up the immense region, dcs.
cribed in the report OF the first adjourned
meeting, for settlement withdrawing to the
more northern portion Of the continent
| Such il probably tho basis Of u late adjust
mcnt, as il had previously been the recon.
mcndation Of the committee.
But the lIudsons Bay Company will
probably retain certain possessory rights"
! M the phrase IL. The recognition OF these
| IN Oregon by our government is u familiar
example Of great benefits received. while ap-
parontly making u sacrifice 80 between
Lakes Superior aud Winnipeg and the Pa
ciGc. How easy now to scc. In the language
of the report, that the members Of the Com.
pany wilt receive hundred fold more I'D
vantage as proprictors Of future cities and
towns than IN Incorporated fur traders.
Fort William, on Thunder bay. Lake Su.
perior north sboro Fort Frances, on Rainy
River Fort Garry, on Red River; Carlton,
| Pitt aud Edmonton, on the north Saskatch-
evan Chesterfield. onita south branch. and
points on the upper Columbia aud Frazer
Rivers, besides Victoria, already Indicated
as the naval station Of England on tho Ia.
ci0c--thcse and many other locations will
bc the scenes Of operations. FAR more remit
nerativc and exciting than these trading
posts have ever before witnessed.
IL Ia reasonable tO anticipate TINT all con'
ncc,ed with the lludson's bay Company,
will now facilitate emigration from the d.
fcction Of Minnesota, as its agents and ser
wants have done at tho Pacific posta Tho
English or Australian plan may be adopted
| W tfTuilH U'tut'F w pbt sufb - VA
implies the obligation Of protection, and ns
TO the attempt to conIine the trade In sup
plies 10 the Company, there Is great Doubt
whether such regulation can be enforced,
aud even If il Is, il may bc well Tor the
protection Of the miners from cxtortion by
other parties
Upon the practical question Of AN over.
land journey 10 British Oregon, preference
has been generally expressed during this
discussion, for the more northern route, by
way Of Pcmbina, Carlton, the north branch
Of thc Saskatchewan and .hc Athnbasca
Portage 10 the Boat Encampmcnt on the
Upper Columbia. The advantages of this
route consist Of the succession Of grass, wa.
ter, timber and game, ~ detailed in Sir.
George Simpsons narrative the frequent
posts Of the lIudson's Bay Company the
security from Indian attacks, and the impor.
tant fact that the point Of cgress from the
Rocky Mountains. namely, the Boat En-.
campment, IL Immediately adjacent 10 the
gold district.
Still "A ron,c from Penbina. far more 10
the South. has every advantage ol the route
above named. except that party might be
annoyed by the Backfcct Indians aad
there are no trading posts ns resource
against Unforeseen accidents. A Mr.. James
Bird for thirty five years IN the employment
Of the Iiudson bay Company, and the
American Fur Company and occasionally
acting as interpreter TO negotiations with The
Blackfeet Indians, has often travelled the
plains and mountains bctw ween Salt Lake City
and A,habasca, and describes the Kootonais
pass, very near the international line, ~ more
favorable than any other A route thither
would start from Pcmbina. pass 10 the right
of Turtle mountain. (pcrhaFs lorty.lye miles
north Of il, and the same distance beyond
the boundary cross the valley VI Mouse or
Saurie river, and thence north Of west and
about midway from the boundary to the
South Saskatchewan, by Cypress mountain,
10 the head waters OF M0.ko pe. or Belly
river. which Is the most soutbcrly of the
head waters u the bow or South, Saskatch-
evan. This whole route Is very favorable,
consisting Of an extensive prairie, or buffalo
range, and easily traversed by carts. The
Iass thus reached, known a. the k0otonsis
pass. rises gradually and is only three days
walk, one day on horseback, 10 the borders
Of the Kootonais, McGillivray or Flstbow
river. Over this pas the Kooionais, or Flat
bow Indians are accustomed 10 descend into
the plains Of the Saskatchewan for their
summer hunts d buffalo. Beyond the pas.
the route 10 Fort COlville, as pursued by
simpson, ia circuitous and difficult, 10 much
20, ~ % add 500 miles before reaching the
gold dptrict. n more direct connection
should be discovered. this route might be
found more advantageous than any other.
II r preferable 10 the line Of Stevens rail.
road survey.
10 regard 70 the route Of Gov. Stevens,