The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-16
THE OLDEST TRUST IN AMERICA.


MONTREAL, April 1.-THE Toronto Globe
recently published a brief history OF the
oldest trust on the American continent.
the Hudson's Bay Company. "Organized,"
says the writer, "for the furnishing OF furs,
one Of the worlds most costly luXuries' to
the rich and the well placed, the HudSon's
Bay Company was planned in hardship ana
built UP through patient, ferocious toll
incredible perseverance,, occasional star
walton and frequent bioodshed.
In 1927 n Erenchman named Du Point
So. mp a little trading post at the Junction
of the Sagucnay River with the st. Law
renee. He sold his merchandise TO the
Indians and took his pay in furs. A lew
years later the French Fur Company was
organized. In 1861 two employees were
sent to tho shores Of the Hudson Bay, ana
from there TO Lake Superior and Lake van
nipeg. They reported fur bearing animals
in abundance, but their employers were
not impressed by the business possibilities
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 a preliminary
expedition. In 1858 a little vessel OF htty
tons, named the Nonsuch, left England for
parts unknown The expedition spent
the winter in Hudson Bay and returned TO
England in the summer Of 1850 with a tull
cargo.
Early in 1870 King Charles II. granted
to Prince Rupert and seventeen others a
charter as the Governor and Company OF
Adverturers Trading Into Hudson Bay
with sole rights to trade in fish, whales,
timber, minerals, furs and numerous other
things throughout all the territory tribu-
tary to Hudson Bay. The name OF Rupert's
Land was given to the district, and although
this title was long since dropped, officially
it is still heard, and the Church of England
still has a Bishop Of Rupert's Land. Tho
company was practically authorized to es-
tabIish and maintain a government through
out a territory OF hundreds of thousands OF
SQUARE miles in extent. This was held
until it's transfer to the Dominion Govern
ment in 1869, in consideration Of 81 100000
and the reservation to the company oil
certain lands and privileges.
If the right man could nave access to
the records, the legends and the camp fire
tales of this remarkable institution a series
Of books might be written which, by com
parison, would make the Misunderstanding
tales seem almost insipid and Mayne Reds
stories almost tedious. Many a lady's
mufT has cost a mans life, and many a
collar has been sent to market at tho price
of suffering and danger. In 1888 n charter
was obtained by the Northwest Fur Com
pany of Montreal, on the ground of a claim
that it was the legal SUCCESSOR Of tho old
French company. For nearly forty years
a bitter and often bloody contest was main
tanned between this and the old company.
In 1915 the site OF the present city of Winni-
peg was the scene of a pitched battle. The
two companies were consolidated in 1921
because both we're convinced that a con-
timuance OF such hostilities meant ruin to
both.
The Hudson's Bay Company hasbeen one
Of the most important advance guards OF
civilization on this continent. Around
many of the forts and ports from which the
hardy and courageous "voyageurs' anc
"coureurs de bois' brought the bales OF
pe!ts by dog sled and canoe there have
grown up prosperous towns and cities
Victoria, Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton
we're originally trading posts of this com
DODN. ADpul l"tily-hNO ySoiS "6O Wv
company put steamboats, on the Saskatche
van and the Mackenzie. But even now i
has stations in the far north, where mai
e, is received only once a year. York Fac
tory, established about 1870. and For
Churchill, both on the western shore o
| Hudson Bay, will some day be thriving
, cities, shipping points for millions Of bush
! els Of grain and Thousands OF cattle by direo
steamer lines to Europe.
, Romance and tragedy ave given plac
/ to modern commercialism; the steamboa
crowds out the canoe and the huge bateau
the railway supplants the dog sled, and tn
Hudson's Bay Company is becoming onl,
a chain Of department stores. Yet 1t !
perhaps not too much to say that had 1t no
j been for this organization and the ener
p getic rival which it absorbed in 1921 tn
> Canada of to-day would probably have bee
< little more than a chain Of towns and cite
Il along the st. Lawrence and around LAX
= Ontario and a group of semi-isolated mari
u tine provinces. Mackenzie and Fraser
Thompson and Quesnel, all fur hunters
y discovered large areas OF a country towar
l. the development of which much has bee
5 lone by the present Lord Strathcona
II formerly Donald Smith, a factor OF TIA
Hudson's Bay Company.
g 4 Plea for Natural Rates FOR Money.
q To THP EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir; Their
IL Ill -.