The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1906-08-22
FRENCH THE FIRST
PIONEERS IN THE FUR INDUS.
TRY IN AMERICA.
As Far Back as 1927 One Of That Race
Began Dealing with the Indians
Bitter Contests over
Territory.

In 1927 Frenchman named Du Pont
set up little trading post at the june
ton Of the Saguenay river with the ST.
Lawrence. He sold his merchandise to
the Indians and took his pay in furs.
A few years later the French Fur
company was organized. In 1861 two
employees were sent to the shores of
the Hudson bay and from there to
| Lake Superior and Lake Winnipeg.
They reported fur-bearing animals In
abundance, but their employers were
not impressed by the business posi-
bilities of the enterprise which they
suggested.
They went to Boston, where they
aroused interest, but were unable to
raise funds. They went to England
and then to France. After three or
four years of effort they were brought
into contact with Prince Rupert, who
agreed to finance preliminary expedi-
ton. In 1868 little vessel of so tons,
named the Nonsuch, left England for
parts unknown" The expedition
passed the winter in Hudson bay and
returned to England in the summer Of
1863 with full cargo.
Early in 1870 King Charles IL grant
ed to Prince Rupert and II others a
charter as the Governor and Company
of Adventures Trading into Hudson
Bay" with sole rights to trade in fish,
whales, timber, minerals, furs and
numerous other things throughout all
the territory tributary to Hudson bay.
The name of Rupert's Land was given
to the district, and although this title
was long since dropped officially 1t is
still heard and the Church Of England
still has a bishop of Rupert's Land
The company was practically author
ICED to establish and maintain a gov
eminent throughout a territory of hun
dreds of thousands of square miles in
extent This was held until its trans
fer to the dominion government In
1859, in consideration of S1,500,000 and
the reservation to the company of GER
tain lands and privileges.
If the right man could have access &c
the records, the legends and the camp.
fire tales of this remarkable institution
series of books might be writer
, which by comparison would make the
Misunderstanding tales seem almost in
sipid and Mayne Reds stories almos
tedious. Many lady's muff has cos
mans life and many collar has
been sent to market at the price o
suffering and danger.
: In 1888 charter was obtained by tn,
Northwest Fur company of Montrea
| ha IF claim that II
the legal successor of the old Frencl
company. For nearly 40 years bite
and often bloody contest was main
tanned between this and the old com
pany. In 1916 the site of the presen
city of Winnipeg was the scene of
pitched battle. The two companie
d were consolidated in 1921, because bot
were convinced that a continuance O
such hostilities meant ruin to both.
The Hudson's Bay company has bee
one of the most important advanc
n guards of civilization on this con
:, tinent. Around many of the forts an
l. ports from which the hardy and coul
ageous "vor geurs" and "coureurs d
bois" brought the bales of pelts by do
sled and canoe there have grown u
prosperous towns and cities. Victorii
d. Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton WEI
originally trading posts of this con
pany
About 25 years ago the company p,
steamboats, on the saskatchewan an
=. the Mackenzie But even now 1t hs
y. stations in the far north, where ma
Is received only once year. Yor
- Factory, established abor' 1910, an
IL Fort Churchill, both on the wester
shore of Hudson bay, VIII some da
IS be thriving cities, shipp- points fc
millions of bushels of g.. and tho,
sands of cattle by direct steamer lin,
| m Eurppp