The Shasta courier., 1867-11-09
A Gigantic Monopoly.

The Westminster Review for july gives
| the history of one of the most gigantic mon.
/ opohes that ever cursed the earth. The
Hudson's Bay Company was chartered under
Charles H., in 1870 The corporators were
noblemen and gentlemen, with Prince Ru.
pert at their head. They received grant Of
all the territory that was watered by Hud.
sons Bay, comprising nearly 1900. 900
square miles, or two-thirds the area of the
! United States and Territories Itwas known
as Rupert's Land. 1t lies north of the 10Th
parallel, and includes nearly 20 degrees of
latitude and 80 of longitude
The charter made the Company the sole
government of the territory, which was au-
thorized not to do anything inconsistent with
the laws Of England The only condition on
which the conveyance was made was the
yearly payment to the crown of g two elks
and two black beavers" which were to be
delivered whenever the sovereign should hap
pen to enter into the said territories but as
the sovereign never visited them, the Com.
pany held possession rent free
The company fourished from 1890 to 1900
lilo years-making annual dividends of
60 to 20 per cent. About this time opposi.
ton in the shape of the Northwest Fur Com.
pany arose, and operated from the Canadas
as a base This led to continual wars, the
rank and file being Indians and half, breeds
which lasted till 1921. when both sides being
| impoverished, a consolidation was made. its
old prosperity returned, and the colony now
numbers 10000 souls
The company has done everything in its
power to prevent the growth of the Red Riv-
er settlement, and of every other colony
making any attempt at settlement within its
wide territory. Their policy is to preserve
that vast region for hunting and fishing
Any inhabtant not belonging to the com
panv is liable to have his house forcibly
entered, his goods confscated and himself
| imprisoned.
The Review collates much evidence show
ing that most of that region is susceptible of
profitable cultivation.
At Red river. in 1866, the highest
temperature registered was 90 and the low
est 48 degrees. The river was frozen over
November 10Th and clear on the 10th of
April following. Wheat sown on the 29th
of that month was ripe on the 18th Of August.
The evidence. quoted by the Westminster
Review as to the great extent Of fertile soil
in Rupert's Land is conclusive, and the
selfish course of the company is strongly
condemned They do not seem to learn Wis
dom by experience. Having been shorn
of their former grand proportions by the loss
of Oregon and Washington Territory (ceded
to the United States) and of British Columbi
and Vancouver's Island, which have become
Grown colonies, the company bad every in
ducement to stop the mplaints of the Red
river colonists by reasonable concessions
But, instead Of that, they went on oppres-
sing them, until the colonists demonstrated
so loudly to the English Government that
an investigation was ordered into the affairs
of the company, which has resulted in bring
ing it into disrepute, and will probably at
last lead to decided curtailment or can
collation. of its privileges.
The Red river colonists. with St. Paul for
their commercial mart, feel identified with
this codntry, and are generally in favor of
annex3tion.