Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/108



that from this humble commencement of one or two ships, handling only the pelts of fur-bearing animals, just one hundred years ago, when this paragraph is written that commerce has developed into an importing and exporting trade of fifty millions of dollars annually, and of which Astor 's big item of pelts does not now amount to more than one hundredth part of one per cent.

But the enterprising German was not to have easy sailing. Knowing full well the great influence, wealth and success of the Northwest Company of Canada, and that said company had no trading posts west of the Rocky moun- tains, south of the headwaters of Eraser river, Astor made known to them his plans and invited them to join him in his new enterprise, offering them a third interest in his company. But instead of receiving this friendly offer in the spirit in which it was tendered, the Canadians pretended to take the matter under advisement in order to gain time, and then hastily sent out a party under the lead of their surveyor, David Thompson, as stated above, with instruction to occupy the mouth of the Columbia with a trading post of their own, and to ex- plore the river to its headwaters, and seize all advantageous positions. But fully aware of this treacherous return for his friendly offer, Astor prosecuted his en- terprise with renewed vigor. He associated with him as ]iartners Alexander McKay, Duncan, MacDougal, Donald Mackenzie, David and Robei-t Stuart, and Ramsay Crooks, all men of experience, taken from the Canadians, and with them John Clarke of Canada, and "Wilson Price Hunt and Robert McLellan, citi- zens of the United States. The McKay named above had accompanied Alexander jMackenzie in both of his previously described voyages of discovery.

The articles of co-partnership provided that Mr. Astor, as head of the com- pany, should remain at New York and manage its affairs, and supply vessels, goods, supplies, arms, ammunition and every other thing necessary to the success of the enterprise at first cost, providing that such advances should not in any one year require an outlay of more than four hundred thousand dollars. The stock of the company was divided into one hundred shares of which Astor held fifty. The business was to be carried on for twenty years, Astor to bear all the losses of the first five years, after that, losses to be borne ratably b}' the partners ; but if not profitable for the first five years, it might be dissolved at the end of that period. The chief agent of the company on the Columbia was to hold his posi- tion for five years, and Wilson Price Hunt was selected for the first term. Four of the partners, twelve clerks (among whom was Gabriel Franehere, who wrote a narrative of the voyage), five mechanics and thirteen Canadian trap- pers, were to go to the mouth of the Columbia b}' the way of Cape Horn and the Sandwich Islands, as stated above, and commence work until Hunt, the chief agent, with his part.y, shoiild go overland to the same point. The ship, Tonquin, two hundred and ninety tons burthen, commanded bj"- Jonathan Thorn, a lieu- tenant of the United States navJ^ on leave, was- made ready for the trip and sailed for the mouth of the Columbia on the 8th day of September, 1810. The ship carried a full assortment of Indian trading goods, supplies of provisions, timbei's and naval stores for a schooner to be built on the Columbia for coast- wise trading tools, garden seeds, and everything else to start a self-sustaining settlement. And as England was then dogging the infant republic to pick a quarrel for the "War of 1812, and Mr. Astor had got an intimation thjit his ship, designed for peaceful commerce and settlement in distant Oregon, might be