The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-29
GheGtttelIiqerttr:
WINNIPEG.
Tho Revolt and ItS Causes.
Tho Country and iGs Resources.

Between the northern boundarles O
Minnesota and DAkotah and LAX
Winnlpeg,-on the shores OF that lax
and along tho valley OF the Red Rive
which flows northward into lt,-ar
considerable settlements OF whites anC
mixed breeds, who subsIst chiefly b,
trapping and hunting and who hAvr
hitherto been subjected 10 very it'll
civil restraints from any quarter-thl
country belonging TO the Hudson Bay
Company. The recent purchase Of thI
country by the Dominion Of Canadl
and the attempt TO assert civil aulho'
rity over It. the resistance made by thI
Red River settlements, the obstacles
which Canada must flud In enforolnt
her authority In q region 80 remote ant
nearly inaccessible, and the genera
wish said TO DO entertained by tho rebel
llous settlers TO be annexed to thu
United States, all lend 10 that region ar
attraction which Il has never possessed
for our readers before. Some account
otthis country, the recent disturbances
there, and their origin, derived from
authentic sources, may therefore, prove
Interesting and instructive.
THE HUDsoN's nay COMPANY.
The Hudson's Bay COMPANY was Or
Ganlzed In l67O-two hundred yeart
ago-by royal charter from Charles II,
and has exercised supreme control over
the vast northern territory from Labra.
dor to the Pacific down to the present
year. The original charter included
all territories within the limits water.
ed by rivers falling into Hudson's Bay,
together with all lands and territories
not already actually possessed by the
subjects OF any other Christian prince
or State: with the fishing OF all sorts OF
fish, whales, surgeons, and all other
royal fishes In the seas, bays, inlets, and
rivers within the provinces, AID ali
mines royal, ms well discovered al un-
discovered, Of gold, silver, gems, and
precious stones to be found or dIscoy.
cred within the territories, limits, and
places aforesaid
The staple article to which the COM
nany directed lts enterprise was the ma.
tive furs, and that trade very soon as.
sumed vast proportions and becam q
Immensely profitable. In 1851 and 1888
the company paid an annual dividend
OF my per cent, and during ITO years,
from 1000 to 1900, the annual dividends
regularly reached the enormous figures
OF between sixty and seventy per cent,
The company gives employment TO
about 5000 subordlnates, besides an
Of 100.00O Indian hunters, As
stated by Sir George Simpson In 1927,
the annual Imports Of the company did
not exceed $2OO, 900, while the gross
OF their furs sent to England
reached annually over $1,000 900,
and often as high as $500.
average being 81, 6O0, 900, show.
Ing return OF 500 per cent. on the I'm.
ports. In June 1856, the capital OF the
Company was G., 46S. SO2, and It's llabll-
tiles &2OS. 2SS.-leaving lts capital Gl,-
265. O67-or about six million and q
quarter Of dollars. This was lndepend.
ent OF hundreds OF Individual fortunes
made and Withdrawn by retiring men,
bers OF the company. Tho transfer OF a
portion OF their territory to the Domin-
lon OF CAnAdA leRvRs tho compauy still
IN possession OF their central depols, and
the huntere In possession OF extensive
hunting grounds.
THE PURCHASE OF THR NORTHERN rEW.
RIToRY BY CANADA.
During the last spring and mldsum-
mer months the Dominion OF Canada
purchased the British northwestern
territory from the Hudson's Bay Com
pany. The stipulated price is &3OO, 900
sterling, and the English Government
guarantees the payment, Mr.. Glad.
stone and other prominent statesmen
lntimating, when the bill was under
discussion, that with the Endorsement
OF this transaction the practice OF Ruar.
anteeing Canadian obligations must
cease. The HudsOn's Bay, Company
retains large reservations, Including all
their trading posts aud grounds around
them, With the privilege OF hunting
ana trading. On uhIhIulug possession
OF the territory tIIs Governor General
OF Canadn appointed the Hon. William
McDougall, Y. b., then Minister, OF
Public Works, TO be Lieutenant Gov.
ernor oil tho new colony In the North.
west. The Hon. Joseph Howe was sent
out to the Red river settlement 10 ex-
anime the country, and inform the
people that they were organized Into a
new dependency OF the Dominion OF
canada. His report has not yet been
made public.
THE RED RIVER COLONY.
The Red River has Ils source In the
high lands OF Minnesota, and flows d.
reotly north, forming the division be-
tween Minnesota and Dakota. 1t emp.
ties into Winnipeg Lake about sixty
miles north Of the boundary between
British America and Minnesota. The
colony numbers 10000 inhabitants,
Thelr trade Ia principally with Pambl.
ma, an American town near the Juno
ton OF Minnesota and Dakota on the
British boundary. Their wholesale
trade 10 with ST. Paul and other Amerl-
can cities, The population Is composed
OF Europeans, French, Canadians. and
hRlf-breed Indians. One half OF lbs
population are farmers, the other half
hunters, including all the half.hraa6a
CAUSE OF THE OPPOSITION.
Like Novia Scotia, Prince Edward
Island, and Newfoundland In the East,
and British Columbia In the West, the
Red River Colony In the North Ia op-
posed to coming under subsection 10
the Dominion. British Columbia earn
estly desires annexation 10 the Amerl-
can Union, and her people have petl-
TONED the Queen OF England TO be al
lowed TO change their allegiance. The
Red River Colony are prompted by a
similar spirit. 'They demand a terrl-
toriRl government after tho manner OF
American territorial governments, with
q Legislature chosen by tho people, a
homestead act, and u fund for school
purposes and internal improvements. )
They know, also, that while subiectlon
TO Canada will largely Increase their
taxes, It Will not extend their COM
merce. The distance between the Red
Rlver Colony and Montreal Ia 1900
miles, and The only way OF travel and
transportation Ia through the United
States.