Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-12-27


900 were brought to Edmonton,
~ Alberta. from the north coun-
try and trans-shipped to Lon
don, Paris. St Petersburg, New York
and Boston to supply half the world
eventually. Three great companies
sent in furs valued at $625,000, while
Independent traders brought in the
balance. The catch of fox furs was
especially large. There are several
silver fox skins appraised from $1,250
TO $1,000. Experienced trappers have
this year made from $500 to $4,000
on the average.
Scattered the length and breath of
the great lone land of northern Can
ada and along the lonely coast of Lab
rador at Cartwright. Rigolet, and
even to Davis inlet, and still again
about the shores Of Hudson bay, re-
nned and intelligent Scotch, English
and Canadian families live, taking
charge Of the lone trading posts of
the Oldest trust in the world.
Round about them stretches the
wilderness. North of Cartwright. in
fact, and almost at that place itself,
there Is not even tree of trunk
thicker than sapling's to comfort
the eye, for 1t is beyond the tree line.
Outside, about the post, in the winter
nights, the wolves come and howl and
the call Of the wild Is answered by
the yelp of the Eskimo dog, who Is
not dog at all but species Of
wolf.
Ship Long Awaited by Exlles.
On to one side Is the humble mems
house. There some Indians, or Eski-
mo, or half breed trappers for the
company, who have come in with the
load of fur, make merry. In the little
whitewashed home, before the twig
fire, the factor and his wife gather
and read and write letters, each one
long, long letter, volume almost to
which they add as fancy dictates, for
1t cannot go until the passage opens
An the spring. And then, in the fac.
tors home, and in the mems house
both, they look for the coming of the
company ship from England.
What wealth of good things, what
novelties, what dire necessities will
not relatives send, or else more pro
sale traders ship them! What sur
Tprises will there be In store! AND
what has the world done In all the
Nong months since they lost ear Of 1T
SO. like the return of the Maynower
the exiles speculate. night upon night
When the ship drops into the har
Dor, however, 1t is to unload as rap
idly as possible the supplies for fac
tor and employees, the things to trade
with the Eskimo and objects Indians
and half breeds covet. And mean
while they take aboard the furs
is a perpetual call Of Hurry" ant
Of "Hasten!" for the summer is shor
and they must make the round Of tn,
posts before the passage closes will
the ice, or they will be frozen in.
It is Icy and drear and lonely her,
and one is glad to get ashore. First
of course, visitors must peep into tn
warehouse for furs. killed in the earl.
spring, and awaiting shipment to Lon
don. It seems just long shed witt
an aisle down its length. and witt
barrels to right and to left. four high
Some of the barrels are bound witt
iron hoops, others with hoops O
birch. Brooms stand gathered in
corner. for trading to the trappers.
bundle of withes lies at hand 70
working into future hoops. Salt 1
scattered about the floor in lieu @
-sawdust.
Beyond this hut, to right and left G
the path, what seem wigwams. bu
what really are tree trunks. thin a
poles stacked together. rise. the FIR
wood for the winter. Between ther
the walk leads back to the pier, wher
other storehouses reveal themselves