The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-05

dependancies under the dominion of Spain, and there 1t remained for a period of 30 years.
 The events of that time were full of in- terest and importance, the relation of which would fill many volumes rich in romance and the more substantial ele- ments of trade and commerce.. Peace had settled over our territory which. though young In years, had experienced the dynasty of the Indian, the French, , English and Spanish finding its greatest security and expansion under the Amer ican flag. seeking its name. Alabama. in the vowelly lapse of tNs Indian tongue. it's significance: Here We Rest.
 Conspicuous amongst the events under Spanish domination was the wonderful success of commercial house of inn mense capital and widespread transac- tions, first established under the title of Pauton, Leslie & Co.,, and subsequently, changed to John Forbes & Go. Tn daring enterprise. wealth. number of men in their employ and the expanse of land and sea covered by their traffic. they occupied the same position In the south that the Hudson Bay company held in the far north They did business of many mil lions annually. The partners were of Scottish origin. and distinguished for their energy and intelligence Their house had sprung up during the British possession. but under Spanish rule had become still more aggressive and powerful finally be- coming a ruling influence in the south vest as well as in the region known as the gulf states. While their headquar ters were in Mobile they had branches In Pensacola and Mantanzas. They owned and operated many vessels and the prin- cipal object, outside of trade with the whites, was to supply the Indians with every species of merchandise. sending goods on pack ponies hundreds of miles in the interior. For many years they had carried on a large and profitable business, but when Spain secured possession of Florida 1t was an important part of her policy to control the exclusive trade of the indians by alluring it from the En- glish of Georgia and South Carolina. and made special treaties with the Choctaws, Alabamas and Chickasaws to trade only with some one Spanish firm to be chosen by their chiefs. In order to secure this monopoly of patronage richer in results than a silver mine, Pauton. Leslie & Co. admitted as a secret member of their firm the celebrated chief and veritable Emperor of the Creek Confectionery, Alex ander McGillivoray. This was the cause of the strong and unaccountable inf1u- ence the Spaniards ever held over that wiley and powerful chieftain and which the authorities of Georgia and the gem eral government under Washington could neither comprehend nor destroy, and which caused many hostpities upon the frontier in which both state and national government were involved.
 This rich and influential house easily established business connections with all the southern tribes, sending into every section their agents and peddlers; and in addition to their pack trains through the wilderness. they maintained a system of .canoes upon the rivers, with Indian boat men. They had maps of their peddlers' routes by trail. camping places and trad ing grounds In Jones valley, coming up the northward trail from Black War rior Falls, was one, at fine, bold spring