The Holly chieftain., 1924-03-13

Iexas, the Southwest and California were Span
lsh Canada was British. The Pacific Northwest
was No Mans Land" with Russian, Spaniard.
britain and American uli striving for foothod
Inc Undiscovered Country" OF the Louisiana Pur-
ehase was American.
The French tri-ceor came down and Old Glory
Went up St Louis March 10. 1904. With
cheer, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, waiting
1mpatently the American side of the Missts-
sippl, set forth on Its historic exploration to see
what the United States had got for its fifteen MIL
lions. 1t wintered (lS056) at the mouth Of the
Columbia and arrived at st. Louis late in 1906.
returning as from the dead
The mutton rejoiced. And thereupon, the Ameri-
can people, with the realization that the Louisiana
Purchase was In truth "Delectabe Land
thrilled with their nrst full vision OF their destiny
and resolutely set their faces toward the setting
sun, thenceforth to be content with nothing less
than clean sweep from ocean to ocean,
Lewis and Clark reported the Missouri to be
alive with beaver clear to its headwaters in the
Rockies And thereupon began the Age OF the
Trapper which was to last for forty years.
The trapper blind in his way the Span.
lard who saw nothing unless gold. saw nothing but
fur-and trod the gold that In the next stage
Of development was to call out the prospector, to
be followed in turn by the settler and civilization.
1t the American free trapper who first sped
out the land and established the practicable routes
Of travel By 1880 the trapper knew the West;
any geographical discovery after that dis
covery only in the sense that 1t resulted in pub
licty.
The return Of Lewis and Clark In 1905 spurred
American fur-traders to activity Manuel Lisa of
st. Louis-adroit and masterful Father Manuel"
made a successful trip up the Missouri and in 1903
organized the Missouri Fur Company. John Jacob
Astor organized in New York the same year the
American Fur company Astor's puns were of
worldwide scope-the founding of Astoria on the
Columbia; the shipping Of furs to China; return
cargoes Of tea and silk to New York. Lisa died
in his prime in 1920; the Missouri Fur Company
lasted until 1880, when 1t was crowded out by the
Rocky Mountain Fur Company and the American
Fur Company.
James Bridger, born in 1904 In Virginia. np-
pears upon the in 1922. when the Rocky
Mountain Fur Company was organized in St Louis
by Gen William H. Ashley. A youth Of eighteen,
he was Of Ashleys proatsharing associates,
with Smith. Jackson. Provost, the Subettes. Fitz-
patrick Campbell and Beckwourth-all OF whom
became famous.
Br;dger gained his title of respect-"Old Jim
before he thirty. In twelve months of 1924
he made circuit OF 5000 miles. extending from
the Mississippi to California and from Kansas to
Montana He discovered South Pass through the
Wyoming Rockies IN 1923 and Great Salt Lake In
1924 He rediscovered about 1880. the Yellow
stone first by John Golfer in 1907 and
laughed Off the map as Golfers He'll"
1t was Ashley who superseded the stationary
trading post by the and annual rendez-
vous BY 1880 Brldger a directing partner.
In 1882 he and Milton Soublette and Fitzpatrick
bought out Ashley. In 1884 Astor got out OF the
American Fur Company because the French had
invented way to substitute silk for beaver In
tophats His successors bought out Bridger and
his associates in the Rocky Mountain Fur Com
pany.
IN 1s43 Bridger established Fort Brdger in the
valley of the Black Fork OF the Green river In
Utah Fort Bridser was not an Indian trading
most but was d house of accommodation for set
tiers pressing west over the Oregon Trail. 1t
the first OF its kind and marked the passing of
the trapper and the beginning OF new era.
Bridyer opened the Overland Route by Bridgers
poss to Salt Lake He guided Gen. Albert Sidney
1ohnson's punitive expedition against the Mormons