The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-30
AT OLD FORT LANGLEY
CLOSING OF THE HUDSON BAY POST
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
The Fort Gave Employment to Many
tFsldesBlen, Carpenters, Ship
wrights and Artisans.

With the history of Canada there is in
extFicably woven the history of the Hud-
sons Bay company, says the London,
Canada, Gazette. That company has, In
its way, done almost as much as the Ca
madam Pacific railway In opening up the
country. Go where you will, from Mon
treal to Victoria, B. c., and you will
ma evidences of it's work. Thousands Of
hardy Scotch-Canadians can trace their
descent from the Mackenzies, the Fra
sers, the Campbells, the Thompsons, who
left the Highlands behind them years ago
to trap and trade for the Hudson's Bay
company. They were the good traders
with the good hearts," whom the most
Warlike Indians trusted implicitly, and
who made the magic letters, III. B. Co.."
a password amongst the Indians. Per-
haps there is no part of the dominion
where the influence of the Hudson's
Bay company has been so apparent as in
British Columbia. 1t was the explorers
of that company that first among white
men penetrated the Rocky mountains,
and, as DR.. q. M. Dawson relates, it was
the employees Of this ubiquitous company
that first found the yellow gold on the
banks of the Thompson river tributary
of the Fraser. 1t was this discovery of
gold that brought prominence to Victo-
ria, and that city, which is now the cap
ital Of British Columbia, was formerly
a stockaded post of the Hudson's Bay
company. The company may also be
said to be the pioneers of coal mining
in this province, for not only did Dr.
OF lk1 IA
upon the coast as early as 1885, but it
actually brought out some Scotch min
ers in 1885 to open up the deposits at
Nanaimo.
While mining and trading the com
pany also engaged in farming. One of
the most important of it's farms was
situated at what is now known as Lang
ley Prairie, and a little further on there
was established Fort Langley, one of the
Oldest of the eompany's stockades in the
whole province. This fort has just been
closed, and 1t is not far from Cloverdale.
intend to pay a pious pilgrimage to
what remains of it at an early date. In
the meantime the following particulars
as supplied to the local press are not
without interest to old country folk, many
of whom own shares in the company.
Closing of the Post.
''The old established post of the Hud-
sons Bay Company in Langley district
has ceased its business. During Its long
career it proved a great convenience to
the Indian and immigrant population,
and was no small factor in inducing
white settlers to stay in this part of the
dominion. All regret the closing of the
doors of the old historic house, but for
years past the interests of the COM
pany at Langley have been decreasing
in quantity, from various causes, amongst
them the growth of the near Cities and
the increased facilities of access thereto
by road and river, which enabled the
farmer to make purchases from civic
commercial mai his family at the
same place and time that he disposed
of his field produce. Another element has
been the increase in the number of local
stores, which diminish the distance the
consumer had formerly to traverse, when
obtaining his supplies from the fort,
whilst at the same time there was but
small difference in the relative prices.
The trade conditions of the company
have also altered, so that as a distribut-
ing and collecting center for all sorts Of
merchandise over a large extent of coun-
try, the Langley post of the company
has been gradually receding into the
background, and the business absorbed
by the city and other stations. This ends
an episode in the life of the Hudson's Bay
Company, which in times past held a fort
at Langley, stockaded, and guarded by
men, but not long since dismantled and
disposed of, as well as its large farm,
now known as the Langley Prairie and
peopled by prosperous settlers. In by
gone years the company gave employ,
ment at Fort Langley to a numerous
staff of tradesmen, carpenters, ship
wrights, smiths, coopers and other
skilled artisans, who were required for
It's extensive commercial and agricultu-
raj operations. It will be of use to tour
lists to know that from the site of the old
redoubt on Langley hill, the visitor will
obtain a charming view of the valley
Of the Fraser, of the picturesque island
which forms the Indian reservation, and
of a long and lofty range of mountains
which form background, gracefully out,
lined against the blue horizon, complet-
ing a, beautiful picture" This swapping
of a link with the past is much regret
ted by the old settlers around the dis
trict. They too keenly realize that the
old order changeth and giveth place 20