The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-24
r ED RIVER.
EARLY HISTORY OF The SETTLEMENTS.
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The Hudson Bay Conpany's
Royal Charter.
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Transfer Of the Territory to the
New Dominion.
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THE q Al u ELL.
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PRESENT ATTITUDE on THE PARTIES.
THE SUS TsELLI.
PRESENT ATTITUDE OF THE PARTIES.
The discretionary Commander
in-Chief


AT the close Of this decade. crowded with stupcn.
dous events on the American Continent, 1t IL espe-
cay interesting to study the relations OF the United
States with adjacent people and to contemplate
their future. In the last ten years the history OF
tins country has BEN made Respondent with
achievements in behalf OF civilization ana human
progress. An unparalleled war for the preservation
OF republican government has given freedom to
10000 900 Of people and established beyond question
the perpctuiuy of the Union. A foreign Power that
had erected throne upon American soil has been
compelled TO abandon Its scheme and with
draw Its army from the Continent. The shores Of the
United states have been linked by telegraph with
the Old World and the West Indies, o railroad has
been stretched from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific,
steamship lines have been cstab shed with the great
ports OF Asia, new country has been added TO the
Union and last but not least. the annexation OF st.
Domingo completes the brilliant catalogue. Scarcely
has the Suez Canal Deen opened By nations that have
needed Its advantages for centuries, when Young
America directs her energies TO the sthmus Of Darien
and promises to open new highway Tor the COM
Of all the world. Whic these wonderful events
are Transporting the mind naturally reflects upon
the tendency OF all this progress, and studies the
neighborng foreign States and provinces Affected by
evident that the jurisdiction Of the United States,
which has been extending with such marvellous
rapidly, must eventually cover every part OF the
American Continent, ard that the tendency OF ad-
Jacent countries to annexation is as natural as the
laws or gravltatlon.
TIE RED RIVER COUNTRY.
The recent rebellion in the Rel river country is in
entire conformity with their principles and though
1t may at present have no other definite object than
resistance to the mode OF government sought to be
established over by the New dominion of Canada,
the Instruction Is none the less significant OF new
political relations. Very little is known by the
American people OF the character OF the vast coun-
try north OF the boundary Inc. The popular Idea Is
that all the territory above the latitude OF the great
lakes Is a barren, frozen waste covered with snow
aud zee most OF the year, productive only OF few
hardy animals ana shruos, and inhabited only by
poor hunters and Indians. Such Is not the The
isothermal features OF the American Continent are
very peculiar. The topography OF q country governs
its climate to a very great degree, aud IN some OF
the valleys OF the northwestern Territories sheltered
by lofty mountain ranges and open to the sun, q
temperature IS found scarcely more rigorous than
that OF Virginia The country stretching northwards
from Minnesota and Dacotah Territory possesses this
characteristic and mas large tracts OF arabic
soil ready to yield abundant harvests. But
mines OF ron copper and coal; IN forests OF magnf
cent timber, and majestic lakes and rivers commu-
nlcang with each other inviting enterprise to open
one or two short canals ana create u highway for
large vessels IRON the far west tue Atlantic This
district remote from Canada, with large tract OF
uninhabitable country between, while the ma rkets
OF Minnesota are close Mt hand and It's prod active
regions but the continuation or those valleys into
which the tide OF Western emigration Is 30
NnadtI u dnuI lnfl
Red river rebellion assumes importance ana be-
comes worthy OF serious observation by this country
THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY.
The history or the formation OF those settlements
can be briefly stated In 1910 the Hudson Bay
Company was formed under royal charter from
Charles the second, winch grained them oil the
country north OF what was called the DIVIDE, where
the waters separate TO now north and south. The
only consideration to DC given for this charter
the royal prerogative to certain game, and plcogc
to discover Inc northwest passage. The first item
amounted to nothing, ana the company ex.
cused themselves from making explorations
after the passage on the ground that 1t
never would be available II found. Duriug the
its profits from furs were great that
notwithstanding losses sustained oy the capture ny
the French OF some OF their establishments, amount
ing In value TO OLA they were enabled To maze
payment 10 the propretors In 1854 OF fifty per cent
another payment In i6s OF fifty per GEM and IA 1853
payment OF TWENTY-FIVE per cent. in 1879 the stock
was trebled, without any call being made, besides
anording to the propretors payment OF twenty
i've Ter cent on Che newly created stock. from 1892
10 1897 the company lost property 10 the amount of
f97 300; but 1870 their circumstances were i'm
proved that they again treJed tier capital stock,
with only Gull or ten per cent from the proprle-
tors On tins stock they pad divilends averaging
nlne per cent for many years showing profits on the
originally subscribed capital STOCK ACTUALLY paid up
OF between slXiy and seventy per cent per anaum
from 1880 to 1890, period oil llo years Up to TINS
time the Hudson Bay Company enjoyed mo-
n0poly oil the fur trade. and reaped rich harvest
OF wealth aud influence. Ia 1888 tue North west
Company was formed, having lis headquarters at
Montreal, and soon rose 10 such for .udaOle power
a. TO make the territory which the two compa-
mes traded IN scene OF feuds aud blood
she'd involving the destruction OF property,
the generalization OF the Indians and the rum
OF the iur trade. In 1871 unlon tooA place be-
tween the two companies under tue title OF the Hud-
son Bay Company. Ine affairs OF tao company
were managed by "a go,ernor-il-cilcf, sixteen chef
factors twenty niue chief traders five surgeons
eighty seven clerks siXty-seven postmasters several
hundred voyageurs and large number ol temporary
employees OF Inherent grades, amounting in all to
csed general control over the whole interior
management IN British America and was assisted by
a council CONSISTING VI the cncI Officers OF the
company. whose deDeration. were conducted
In secret, Tie whole power ol thiS organization
was directed toward preventing the iolmauon OF
any settlements other than OF FUR traders within
their territory, rs agricultural operations would IN
terfere WIN game. An attempt was made IN 1871,
under the patronage OF Lord Sc Kirk, to form
colony on Red river. but the bostlty OF the Fur
company executed through ITS traders and Indians
broke up the settlement. aud the coonlsts sought
refuge in the iorts. Finally. upon the consolidation
OF the two companies, few settlements
were permitted TO thrive, but their agri
very small SCALE Affairs renamed TINS condition
many years, until the tide OF emigration 10 Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota commenced TO now over
the border into the far settlements and restless
yeDturers became numerous through all that section.
Gradually the iur business became less remunera-
tive, and the hudson Bay Company saw tnat their
Coutroi over the country waa becoming Weakened:
and Two years ago they sold 10 The Canadian govern
meat Tor the sum Of ESQ 900, all lher rights and
Interests IN the Northwest territory rcserving to
Itself tue agricultural lands adjacent 10 trading
posts.
THE CAsUs DELL.
The most valuable part OF this territory ~ included
In the Kcd river country, ana comprises area OF
over 100000 acres Oh arabic land. Inc Red rlyer
rising in the central part OF Minnesota, flows north
ward through tins country, aud on It's banks aud
tributaries numerous noursAing settlements have
been formed. After the purchase OF the territory Dy
the Dominion OF Canada, afraug cments were at once
made ~ tnat government TO take possession, ap-
pOlntcd NcDongal LiemlenAnL GoYenor OF The Tor