Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22
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for use on the lake he went once more to
France. His work at Frontenac had been
but the foundation for his great enter
prise He no longer believed the Missls-
sippi emptied into the Pacific. lie was
satisfied it emptied into the Gulf OF Mex
ico and in his imagination he saw
western and southwestern New France,
larger and greater than the old, which he
would be the means of giving to the king.
He came back with a commission author
izing him to pursue his explorations. en-
towering him to build forts in new-found
country and hold possession of them. Civ
ing to him monopoly of the trade in
buffalo skins, but forbidding him to trade
with tribes accustomed to trafficking with
Montreal. All his work was to be at his
own risk and expense and he was to
complete it within five years
-
No one can study the plans of La Sale
mans comprehension and his mastery OF
the details of his undertaking. He pro-
vided for every contingency except the
treachery of man. To get the money to
finance his project he mortgaged his
cent he had to pay. Then he borrowed
from relatives and friends When he had
borrowed every dollar possible he began
the purchase of supplies. What an
amount lie DOuSHl may ne dppItCldleu
from his plans These, in brief, were as
follows: He could send out three parties
from Fort Ffontenac. One would be
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 tie falls to the
mouth of the ST Joseph river, on Lake
Michigan. The third from the ST. Joseph
70 ba Illinois tho 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
supplies 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 ex-
petition to Lake Huron, and then to
Lake Michigan.
Al the mouth of the st. Joseph fort
and post were to be 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, an
other fort and another post established.
Then La Sale was to proceed in the
new ship. The magnitude of the under
taking can be appreciated only when it
is explained that west of Lake Ontario
the largest craft atioat was a canoe. The
only station the French had in the west
was that of the Jesuits at Michillimack-
mac Marquette and Joliet had been
to the Mississippi. but the whole vast
re ion was wilderness.
With that surprising patience and care
for detail that characterized his whole
life. La Sale saw to the thorough equip
ment of his expedition before the start.
Ii, t;I,,e.
and studied his plans with no less care.
He had been successful in Canada
and his scheme was SO big that the whole
province was excited. If he succeeded ne