The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-12
Fr;m the Chicago Press and Tribune
CANADIAN EFFORTS TO DEVELOP
THE NORTHWEST.

By the term Northwest" we mean to des.
ignate ia this article that extensive and fertile
region lying north of the United States, be-
tween Lake Superior and the Pacific. The
world has been kept in comparative ignorance
of the topography and the resources of this
portion of the American continent by the per
seVering efforts of the Hudson's Bay Company.
That odious monopoly is soon 10 expire, and
there can be no doubt that the valleys of the
Red river of the North, the Saskatchewan, and
the beautiful country surrounding Lake Win
nipeg, will be opened for settlement. Taking
advantage of the popular idea that the climate
becomes colder as the degrees of latitude in
crease, the territory under consideration has
been studiously represented by the Hudson's
Bay Company as barren and inhospitable, fit
only for the residence of Indians and fur-pro-
ducilg animals. The fact that the climatic
lines bend rapidly northward west Of Lake Su-
perior that the depressiOns of the Rocky Noun.
tains allow the winds from the Pacific to mod.
ify the climate of this part of the continent and
that the soil and resources of the country invite
to an early settlement of it, is now attracting
great attention, both III Canada and the mother
country. In anticipation of the demise of the
HudsonS Bay Company, by the limitations of
its charter, a. company has been chartered by
the Canadian Parliament, composed of the
ledulHS CluHenS anu cal lIallSJS OF the Prov
inces, to do the carrying trade and to assist in
developing the resources of the central and
the western portions of the American territory
belonging to the British Crown Its name is
the " Northwest Transportation, Navigation.
and Railway Company" William McDawson,
Esq, NJ. P. p, is president, and Angus ID. Mac
donnell secretary. The Bank and branches of
Upper Canada are the bankers of the company.
The powers graAted by the charter are very com
prehensve and liberal, and, though they may
now be essential in order to secure the capital
necessary to carry out the plans Of the com
pany, future generations may find the exercise
of them by an overgrown wealthy corporation
scarcely less Objectionable than those which
have made the Hudson's Bay Company an
odious and oppressive monopoly We take
condensed statement of them from page of
an official pamphlet issued by the company: .
81 In addition to that of trading, they are au-
thorized to acquire and hold real estate, and
sell or otherwise dispose of the same /; to con-
struct roads, tramways, railways canals, and
all other such works as they may deem neces-
sary for carrying on their trade; and also to
improve and render naYigable channels of
water communication; and upon all such works
and improvements to charge and levy tolls
upon all passengers, traffic, and freight, passing
along or oyer the same. The company has
likewise the right to own, charter, and navigate
boats, vessels, and steamers, upon Lakes HUI
ron and Superior, and upon all the waters,
lakes, and rivers, lying to the northward and to
the westward of the latter, thereby Offering to
their energy and their enterprise a new and
vast field for commercial adventure"