The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-05-31
Our Olio.
THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY.

The supreme control of Hudson Bay
affairs is vested, under the charter, in
Governor, Deputy Governor, and commit
tee of FIVE directors, all annually chosen
by the stockholders at general meeting
held each November. These functiona-
ries, residing in London, delegate their
authority to an official resident in their
American possessions, called the Governor
Of Rupert Land, who acts as their repre-
sentative The authority Of the Governor
is supreme, except during the session Of
his Council, which is held once year, and
continues its formal sittings for two or
three days.
The other parties to the Council are the
members of the "Fur Trade which con-
stitutes, in its relations to the Hudson Bay
Company, the wheel within the wheel.
From this the profits Of the Company may
be said to be entirely derived. 1t consti.
tutes the means by which the Company
ayails itself Of the right TO trade, which il
possesses in its territories. The members
Of tho Fur Trade reside entirely in the 10.
calities where the business is carried on in
North America, and arc employed in car
rying out its actual workings They are
composed Of the two highest grades of
commissioned officers, called Chief Factors
and Chief Traders These furnish none
Of the capital stock, and receive their CON-
missions merely as the rewards of long
service, seldom Of shorter date than four.
teen years, as clerks. No annual election
Of officials forming any thing like the
Companys London Board takes place
among the partners of the Fur Trade.
The only approximation to common ac-
tion which exists is afforded by the annual
meetings of the Council before referred to,
which all Chief Factors and Chief Traders
are entitled to attend. Again, the Board
in London have special representative in
Rupert Land in the person of the Gov
ernor. He is president of the councils Of
officers held in the country, and there is
no instance Of his having been outvoted or
his action set aside by any such body.
On the other hand, the Fur Trade has no
representative at the house in London.
An annual dispatch is addressed by the
London Board to the Council of the North
ern Department This constitutes the sole
occasion on which the Company as body
approaches the Fur Trade as body in the
whole course Of their business.
The partners Of the Fur Trade are con.
nected with the Company under such pro.
visions that their incomes fuctuate with
the attentions of the annual profits Of the
trade. A definite number OF shares COM
poses their aggregate interest. OF these,
Chief Trader possesses one, and Chief
Factor two. Vacancies in their ranks are
Immediately filed up as they occur from
the death or retirement Of the members,
the qualification necessary to obtain the
commission being majority Of all the
sotes Of all the Chief Factors. The can
didates for factorship are necessarily
Traders, while those for vacant trader
ship are from the ranks Of salaried clerks,
seldom of less than fourteen years stand
ing 10 the service.
The trading and interior depot posts Of
the Company are strange, quaint looking
places, built according to general type.
They stand generally upon the second or
lower bank Of some nayigablc river or lake,
so as to be easily accessible 10 the boats
which annually visit them with supplies.
A trading post is invariably a square, in
closed by immense trees or pickets, one
end sunk deeply in the ground and placed
close together. A platform, about the
height Of an ordinary man, is carried along
the inner side Of the square, so as to cna-
Bile any one to peop over without danger
from arrow or bullet At the four corners
are bastions, octagonal in shape. pierced
with embrasures, to lead the Indians 10
believe in the existence of cannon, and in
tended to strike terror TO any red.skinned
rebel bold enough to dispute the supre.
macy Of the Company. The entrance to
the stoekade is closed by two massive gates.
an inner and an outer one. In the centre
Of the square stands the residence of the
factor or trader in charge, and Of the up
per class of employees, while about its four
sides, close to tho stockade, are ranged the
trading store, the fnr-room, the warehouse.
servants quarters, etc. Besides the larger
dwelling rises a tall flagstaff, bearing tho
flag Of the Company, with lis strange dc.
vice, PRO pel4e caten,'---skin for skin
and near by bell tower, the tones from
which mark the hours Of labor and rest.
In front Of the gate lounge few half
breeds or Indians in tassellcd cap and dirty
white capote, or tattered blankets. x
band Of horses graze in distant meadow.
while nearer by u few leather sepees, or
bark lodges, from the itilled poles Of which
the smoke curls lazily, indicate the home
Of the aboriginal hangcr-oS. Al one side
Of the palisade few rude crosses or wooden
raillngs, stained BY rain aud snow lrili,