Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-10-24
Fur Trade Greater Than IN Pioneer DAYS
When Trappers and Traders Piled the Wild Northwest

erected for the purpose of trading with
the Indians for furs.
1t Is to the fur traders as well as
to Lewis and Clark to whom should
go credit for discovering the north
western country, according to Colonel
Chittenden in his story Of the nortn-
west.
Credit to the Fur Traders
However much we may be disposed
to celebrate the achievements Of Lewis
and Clark, we must not forget tnat
the beginnings of the trans Mississippi
history had their source in the y
trade of the great Missouri and It's
tributaries" writes Colonel Chitten-
den.
More than a half century before
President Jefferson sent his explorers
from ST. Louis to the Pacific coast
the traders had been over the vast
region. establishing business relations
with the aborigines, tracing its noun
tainS and valleys and giving them
geographical names. AS early as l122
Fort Orleans was established 200 miles
above the mouth of the Missouri and
in 1854 st. Louis was founded. NO
part of the continent can furnish more
interesting history than the Missouri
valley and the Rocky Mountain region
generally toward the close of the
eighteenth century when the fur buyers
and trappers were introducing civiliza-
ton into the tremendous wilderness.
Before Lewis and Clark
1T will be found that the fur trade
was the true source and beginning
of our history" continues Colonel Chit
tenden. I'VE are accustomed to look
,,tND,, 7 aDysr o,l r1a,1r &C fho Nptntno1
pioneers of the Missouri valley; but
the lonely trader had frequented these
shores nearly two generations before
this expedition went up the river. Fear
lessly and alone he penetrated these
unknown regions, opening up relations
with their savage inhabitants, dis
covering their sources of wealth and
paving the way for the countless multi
tudes that were to follow.
THE trader was the original Indian
agent, and the best friend, in a prac-
teal way, that the Indian ever had.
In the simple relation which the two
races first bore to each other based
upon almost primitive customs Of ex-
change, both peoples we're benefited
and both were satisfied. The white
man entered into the true life of the
red man, learned his language, adopted
his customs, married his women and
won their affections by becoming like
one Of themselves. He wa the original
pathfinder. 1t was he who sought out
and established the highways Of travel
which have become and will always
remain the of m in
this region. He was likewise the
original name-giver in the geographical
nomenclature Of the west.
Missouri River Fur Land
THE Missouri river was the scene
Of the principal activity of the fur
trade. All the tribes along the river
were good robe producers and beaver
hunters and the business of trading
with them grew to large proportions.
Forts and houses without number
sprang up throughout the valley. 1t
is within limits to say that there were
at least 200 of these establishments
along the main stream and its tribu-
taries. Some of them were permanent
and important structures, while others
were mere temporary shelters which
were occupied for only a season or two.
ut wa a singular life they led at
these remote establishments. We shall
never look upon it's like in this country
again, nor perhaps in any other. Lone
some and solitary to a degree during
the greater part Of the time, it was
every now and then enlightened with
episodes in which there was excitement
enough and to spare. The motley and
unruly population with which the trad
er had to deal, lawless hunters and
treacherOuS Indians, made the element
OF danger an e~ver-preSent one, and
there was scarcely a fort in the western
country which did not witness tragic
and noteworthy events in the course
Of its existence.
"St. Louis was the emporium of the
fur trade, and all the expeditions
started and returned to that point.
They always travelled by boat when
going up the Missouri, and the early