The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-22

lished a peace that lasted for several
years. La Sale was his agent in
bringing the Indians to the fort and
soon after the council La Sale sailed
for France with strong letters from
Frontenac. AS n result La Sale was
enabled and got grant of Fort From
tenac and many square miles OF lana
around. In return La Sale was to
establish colony, build church. pay
the cost OF the fort and maintain at his
own expense garrison equal to that
OF Montreal.
There Is suspicion that the Gov
ernor was La Sales partner in this
affair and that they took advantage
of the example set by the Jesuits ans.
former officials and determined TO en-
rich themselves through the big fur
trade Fort Frontenac would command
Whether commercial interests entered
into the matter or not. 1t is fact that
Fort Frontenac was of great value TO
Canada for defense and in the infu-
encing of trade. Aside from that, It
formed the base for La Sales future
undertakings.
After he had torn. down the old
wooden fort replaced IL with one OF
stone, established a forge, a mill. bak-
cry barracks and built small ships
for use on the lake, he went once more
TO France. His work at Frontenac
had been but the foundation for his
great enterprise. He no longer he
lieved the Mississippi emp.ied into the
Pacific. He was satisfied I, emitted
into the Gulf OF Mexico and in his
imagination he saw a western and
southwestern new France, larger and
greater than the old, which he would
be the means of giving to the King.
lie came back with commission an
thorizing him 10 pursue his eyplora-
lions, empowering him to build forts
In new found country and hold posses
sion OF them, giving to him MONOPOLY
OF the trade in Buffalo skins, but for
bidding him TO trade with tribes &C.
cus'omed to trsffickinG with Montreal
All his work was to be at his own risk
and expense and he was to complete
1t within five years.
No one can study the plans OF La
Sale without marveling at the breadth
of the mans comprehension and his
mastery OF the details of his under
taking. He provided for every con-
tingency except the treachery of man.
To get the money to finance his pro-
ject he mortgaged his Fort Fontenac
possessions. Forty per cent. he had to
Pay Then he borrowed from relatives
and friends, When he had borrowed
every dollar possible he began the pur-
chase of supplies. What an amount
he bought may be appreciated from his
plans. These. in brief, were as follows
He would send out three parties from
Fort Frontenac. One would be a sort
of advance guard. The second would
be the main body. The third would
bring the bulk of the supplies. The
first stage OF the journey would be
Fort Frontenac to the mouth OF the
Niagara. The second from above the
falls to the mouth of the St. Joseph
River, on Lake Michigan. The third
from the st. Joseph to the Illinois, and
the fourth from the Illinois to the
mouth of the Mississippi. Every step
was to be solid, Forts were to be
built. posts established. trade opened
and regular line OF communication
maintained. Two ships were to carry
the artisans and supplies to Niagara, |
Then the cannon, the anchors the sup
plies and the keel of another ship were
TO be dragged over the twelve miles |
of hills up to and beyond the cataract.
There new ship was to be built to
sail Lake Erie, where ship never had
sailed before This ship was to carry
the expedition to Lake Huron. and
then to Lake Michigan.
At the mouth of the st, Joseph a
fort and post were to he built, Then
cannon, anchors. supplies and the keel
OF another ship We're to be transported
by water and by land to the point
on the Illinois. There another ship
was TO be built. another fort and an
other post established Then La
Sale was to proceed in the new ship
The magnitude of the undertaking can
be appreciated only when 1t is en-
planned that west of Lake Ontario the
largest craft afloat was canoe The
only station the French had in the
West was that of the Jesuits at
Michllimackinac, Marquette and Joliet
had been to the Mississippi, but the
whole vast region was wilderness
With that surprising patience and
care for detail that characterized his
whole lie. La Sale saw to the thorough
equipment of his expedition before the
start Others, too, watched his prepa-
ratlons and studied his plans with no
less care. He had been so successful
In Canada and his scheme was so big
that the whole province was excited.
If he succeeded he would be the great
est man in the Western world. He
practically would be master OF the
West,
But there We're many who hoped he
would fail. The merchants who had
lost a portion of the rich fur trade
through his favor with Count From