Chapter VI · COMMERCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.[VI-1]

CHAPTER VI. COMMERCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.[VI-1]

Observations on the trade, views, and policy of the North West Company, and the national objects connected with their commerce, as it interests the Government of the United States.[VI-2]

The fur-trade in Canada has always been considered an object of the first importance to that colony, and has been cherished by the respective governors of that province by every regulation in their power, under both the French and English administrations. The great and almost unlimited influence the traders of that country acquired over the savages was severely felt, and will long be remembered by the citizens on our frontiers. Every attention was paid by the cabinet of St. James, in our treaty with Great Britain, to secure to their Canadian subjects the privilege of the Indian trade within our territories, and with what judgment they have improved the advantages obtained by the mother country, time will soon unfold.

In the year 1766, the trade was first extended from Michilimackinac, to the northwest, by a few desperate adventurers, whose mode of life on the voyage, and short residence in civilized society, obtained for them the appellation of Coureurs des Bois. From those trifling beginnings arose the present North West Company, who, notwithstanding the repeated attacks made on their trade, have withstood every shock, and are now, by the coalition of the late X. Y. Company, established on so firm a basis as to bid defiance to every opposition which can be made by private individuals.

They, by a late purchase of the king's posts in Canada, extend their line of trade from Hudson's Bay to the St. Lawrence, and up that river on both sides to the Lakes; thence to the head of Lake Superior, at which place the North West Company have their headquarters; thence to the source of Red river and all its tributary streams through the country to the Missouri; through the waters of Lake Winipie to the Saskashawin; on that river to its source; up Elk river to the Lake of the Hills; up Peace river to the Rocky mountains; from the Lake of the Hills [Lac des Buttes, old French name of Lake Athapasca] up Slave river to Slave Lake. This year they have dispatched a Mr. [(not Sir) Alexander] Mackenzie on a voyage of trade and discovery down Mackenzie's river to the north sea; and also a Mr. M'Coy,[VI-3] to cross the Rocky mountains and proceed to the western ocean with the same objects in view.

They have had a gentleman by the name of [David] Thompson[VI-4] making a geographical survey of the northwest part of the continent; who, for three years, with an astonishing spirit of enterprise and perseverance, passed over all that extensive and unknown country. His establishment, although not splendid, the mode of traveling not admitting it, was such as to admit of unlimited expenses in everything necessary to facilitate his inquiries; and he is now engaged in digesting the important results of his enterprise.

I find from the observations and suggestions of Mr. Thompson, when at the [Julian] source of the Mississippi, that it was his opinion the line of limits between the United States and Great Britain must run such a course from the head of the Lake of the Woods as to touch the source of the Mississippi; and this I discovered to be the opinion of the North West Company, who, we may suppose or reasonably conclude, speak the language held forth by their government. The admission of this pretension will throw out of our territory all the upper part of Red river, and nearly two-fifths of the territory of Louisiana. Whereas, if the line be run due west from the head of the Lake of the Woods, it will cross Red river nearly at the entrance of Reed river, and, it is conjectured, strike the western ocean at Birch Bay, in Queen Charlotte Sound. Those differences of opinion, it is presumed, might be easily adjusted between the two governments at the present day; but it is believed that delays, by unfolding the true value of the country, may produce difficulties which do not at present exist.

The North West Company have made establishments at several places on the south side of Lake Superior, and on the head waters of the Sauteaux and St. Croix, which discharge into the Mississippi. The first I met with on the voyage up was at Lower Red Cedar Lake, about 150 miles above Isle de Corfeau [Corbeau], on the east side of the river, and distant therefrom six miles. It is situated on the north point of the lake, and consists of log buildings, flanked by picketed bastions on two of its angles. The next establishment I met with was situated on Sandy Lake: for a description of which, see document [herewith] marked A. Midway between Sandy Lake and Leech Lake is a small house not worthy of notice [Grant's: see note⁵² p. 144]. On the southwest side of the latter lake, from the outlet of the Mississippi, stand the headquarters of the Fond du Lac department: for information relative to which, have reference to document marked B. Here resides the director of this department. In document C is a recapitulation of the specific articles of 115 packs of peltry, which will give an idea of the whole, amounting per said voucher to 233 packs per annum in the Fond du Lac department. Document D will explain the relative price of goods in that district; but the trading prices are various, according to situations and circumstances. Voucher E shows the number of men, women, and children in the service of the North West Company in the district aforesaid, with their pay per annum, etc. This department brings in annually 40 canoes; from which, by a calculation made by a gentleman [George Anderson] of veracity and information, who has been 18 years in the Indian trade and in the habit of importing goods by Michilimackinac, it appears that the annual amount of duties would be about $13,000. The Lower Red river, which I conceive to be within our territory, would yield about half that sum, $6,500, and the Hudson Bay Company's servants, who import by the way of Lake Winipie, $6,500 more.

Thus is the United States defrauded annually of about $26,000. From my observations and information, I think it will be an easy matter to prevent the smuggling of the Fond du Lac department, by establishing a post with a garrison of 100 men, and an office of the customs, near the mouth of the St. Louis, where all goods for the Fond du Lac department must enter. This is at present the distributing point, where the company have an establishment, and where the goods, on being received from Kamanitiquia, are embarked for their different destinations. That point also commands the communication with Lake de Sable, Leech Lake, Red Lake, etc. I am also of opinion that the goods for Red River, if it be within our boundary, would enter here, in preference to being exposed to seizure. It is worthy of remark that the charter of the Hudson's Bay Company extends to all its waters: and if the British government conceived they had authority to make such a grant, they certainly would claim the country therein specified, which would extend far south of the west line from the head of the Lake of the Woods.

The North West Company were about to push their trade down the Mississippi until they would have met the traders of Michilimackinac; but I gave them to understand that it could not be admitted, as appears per letter to Mr. Dickson.

A. Description of the N. W. Company's Fort at Sandy Lake.

The fort at Sandy Lake is situated on the S. side, near the W. end, and is a stockade 100 feet square, with bastions at the S. E. and N. W. angles, pierced for small-arms. The pickets are squared on the outside, round within, about one foot diameter, and 13 feet above ground. There are three gates: the principal one fronts the lake on the N., and is 10 × 9 feet; the one on the W. 6 × 4 feet; and the one on the E. 6 × 5 feet. As you enter by the main gate you have on the left a building of one story, 20 feet square, the residence of the superintendent. Opposite this house on the left of the E. gate, is a house 25 × 15 feet, the quarters of the men. On entering the W. gate you find the storehouse on the right, 30 × 20 feet, and on your left a building 40 × 20 feet, which contains rooms for clerks, a workshop, and provision store.

On the W. and N. W. is a picketed inclosure of about four acres, in which last year they raised 400 bushels of Irish potatoes, cultivating no other vegetables. In this inclosure is a very ingeniously constructed vault to contain the potatoes, and which likewise has secret apartments to conceal liquors, dry goods, etc.

B. Description of the N. W. Company's Fort at Leech Lake.

The fort is situated on the W. side of the lake, in lat. 47° 16´ 13´´ N. It is built near the shore, on the declivity of a rising ground, having an inclosed garden of about 5 acres on the N. W. It is a square stockade of 150 feet, the pickets being 16 feet in length, 3 feet under and 13 feet above the ground, bound together by horizontal bars each 10 feet long. Pickets of 10 feet are likewise driven into the ground on the inside of the work, opposite the apertures between the large pickets. At the W. and E. angles are square bastions, pierced for fire-arms.

The main building in the rear, fronting the lake, is 60 × 25 feet, 1½ story high; the W. end of this is occupied by the director of the Fond du Lac department. He has a hall 18 feet square, bed-room, and kitchen, with an office. The center is a trading shop of 12½ feet square, with a bedroom in the rear, of the same dimensions. The E. end is a large store 25 × 20 feet, under which is an ice-house well filled. The loft extends over the whole building, and contains bales of goods, packs of peltries; also, chests with 500 bushels of wild rice. Beside the ice-house, there are cellars under all the other parts of the building. The doors and window-shutters are musket-proof.

On the W. side is a range of buildings 54 × 18 feet, fronting the parade, the N. end of which is a cooper's shop 18 × 14 feet, with a cellar; joining to which is a room called the Indian hall, expressly for the reception of Indians, and in which the chiefs who met me in council were entertained. In this hall are two closed bunks for interpreters; its dimensions are 22 × 18 feet. Adjoining this is a room 18 feet square for the clerks, in which my small party were quartered. Under both of the latter rooms are cellars.

On the E. side is a range of buildings 50 × 18 feet, which has one room of 20 feet and one of 15 feet, for quarters for the men; also, a blacksmith's shop of 15 feet, which is occupied by an excellent workman. On the left of the main gate, fronting the river, is the flag-staff, 50 feet in height.

They intended building a small blockhouse over the main gate, fronting the lake, to place a small piece of artillery in. There are likewise gates on the N. and E. flanks, of about 10 × 8 feet.

D. The price of goods in exchange with the Indians.

Blankets, 3 and 2½ point, each, [VI-5]plus 4 $8

Blankets, 2 point, each, 2 4

Blankets, 1½ point, each, 1 2

Blue strouds, per fathom, 4 8

Scarlet cloth, 8-6, 6 12

Worsted binding, per piece, 4 8

Vermilion, per pound, 4 8

Molten [glass beads], blue and white, per fathom, 2 4

Gunpowder, per half-pint, 1 2

Balls, per 30, 1 2

Shot of all sorts, per handful, 1 2

Tobacco, per carrot, 4 8

Twist tobacco, per fathom, 1 2

Beaver-traps, each, 4 8

Half-axes, each, 2 4

Castites, 1 2

N. W. guns, each, 10 20

Knives, each, 1 2

For wampum and silver works, as well as rum, there is no regulation; but the real price of goods here, in exchange for peltry, is about 250 per cent. on the prime cost.

Geo. Anderson.

C.—Recapitulation of Furs and Peltries, North West Company, 1804-5, Fond du Lac Department; Marks and Numbers as per margin.

LEGEND

Column A = Marks.

Column B = Numbers.

Column C = Wt. of Packs, lbs.

Column D = Bears.

Column E = Bear Cubs.

Column F = Beaver, Mixed.

Column G = Beaver, Large.

Column H = Beaver, Small.

Column I = Beaver, Wt. in lbs.

Column J = Badgers.

Column K = Carcajou.

Column L = Deer.

Column M = Foxes.

Column N = Fishers.

Column O = Lynxes.

Column P = Martens.

Column Q = Minks.

Column R = Original skins dr's'd.

Column S = Do. Parchment.

Column T = Do. Green.

Column U = Otters.

Column V = Racoons.

Column W = Musk Rats.

Column X = Wolves.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X

N. W. L. L. [Leech Lake.] 1 92 45

2 92 47

3 93 47

4 91 45

5 90 47

6 91 47

7 92 39

8 87 40

9 92 38

10 91 38

11 92 38

12 87 38

13 90 44

14 92 39

15 93 35

16 93 40

17 99 40

18 88 35

19 96 2 655

20 95 2 607

21 90 68 90

22 89 66 89

23 92 64 92

24 92 71 92

25 92 68 92

26 92 65 92

27 91 73 91

28 89 75 89

29 90 75 90

30 90 85 90

31 91 61 91

32 92 60 92

33 91 67 91

34 91 74 91

35 91 5 60

36 99 4 2 60

37 92 18

38 93 4 3 22 25 22

39 92 6 11 4 2 16 1 94

40 87 6 1 2 1 11 5 21 27 144

41 92 6 29 20 7 1 1 5 16 10 58

42 93 66 93

43 93 79 93

44 90 70 93

45 93 2 1 12 3 14 2 13 7⅓ 2 9

46 91 79 91

47 90 89 90

48 91 69 91

49 91 73 91

50 87 2 1 2 12 1 3 15 4 45

51 104 2 36 1 2 2 2 2 10 1 137

52 127 1 46 4 4 3 2 11 2 117

N. W. R. [Red Lake.] 1 94 57 9 94

2 91 51 14 91

3 92 50 22 92

4 92 49 19 92

5 92 54 31 92

6 92 59 6 62

7 95 7 1 2 3 11 3

8 92 2 672

9 92 1 1 15 1 67 1

10 90 1 1 3 11

11 90 8 2 2 1 3 7 37 24 5 3

12 95 45 8 2 11 13

13 93 4 4 11 7 19 9 1 1 3 58

14 93 2 2 13 9 7 1 1 11 6 4 6

15 92 3 6 14 2 1 2 8 1 1

N. W. S. [Sandy Lake.] 1 86 14 1 18 3 7 25 7

2 91 6 500

3 88 40 29 88

4 91 37 32 91

5 91 37 30 91

6 90 31 37 90

7 89 38 26 89

8 92 41 33 92

9 86 43 17 86

10 87 32 40 87

11 88 41 28 88

12 90 44 22 90

13 87 35 38 87

14 92 43 23 92

15 95 5 22 63

16 92 25 6 3 15 14 16

17 86 32

18 90 31

19 91 29

20 95 33

21 87 7 1 30 43 6

22 83 38 33 83

23 93 34 42 93

24 87 34 43 87

25 89 36 37 89

26 92 57 14 92

27 94 16 1

28 94 4 2 11 58

29 90 2 600

30 91 5 1 43 22 1 11 10

31 93 39

32 93 43

33 90 43

34 91 35

35 99 41

36 86 44

37 72 7 2 13 1 1 55

38 92 1 35 33 5 1 5

F. L. [Fond du Lac.] Summr. Nos. 1 7 12 1 3 1 4 162

1 91 2 4 615

2 93 51 14 93

3 92 45 24 92

4 93 44 25 93

5 88 41 34 88

6 95 5 199 40 8

7 95 5 16 6 35

8 95 4 1 472

9 93 9 4 2 1 3 6 6 6 49

10 98 1 30 19 1 2 2

A. Pacton 11 15 2 2 3

Amount of the above returns, 115 Packs.

Different establishments not included, 34 Packs.

Amount of the E. of the X. Y. Company, 84 Packs.

Total amount, 233 Packs.

E. Return of men employed in the N. W. Company's Department of Fond du Lac, for 1805, with the amount of their wages per annum, etc.

Accountants, 3

Clerks, and men receiving interpreters' wages, 19

Interpreters, 2

Canoe-men, 85

Total, 109

Women and Children belonging to the Establishment.

Women, 29

Children, 50

Total, 79

Livres.

Sum of the wages per annum of the above 109 men, 63,913

Average wages of each man, 586 7

Due by the N. W. Company, 38,566 8

Due to the N. W. Company, 24,326 16

N. B. The above women are all Indians, there not being a single white woman N. W. of Lake Superior.