Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/376

 LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE

358

Oregon

City,

merce.

The

a

site

for manufacturing and according to 'McLoughlin's

valuable

com-

idea, place was, "destined by nature to be the most important place in the country," hence he had, in 1829, taken a claim there in the

name of the Company, thinking to use a part of it for himHe self when he should have retired from active service. knew that it would be on American soil, but he intended to become an American citizen when he no longer was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company. Furthermore he considered it a good business venture for the Company to have a station at the Falls.

.

People connected with the Methodist mission, this site as McLoughlin at a later date

saw the value of

also,



said: 23

"The Methodist Mission wanted to possess themBut I selves of the place, of which I was informed in 1840. could not believe that persons calling themselves Ministers of the Gospel would do what their countrymen in the most humble station in life having the least regard for right, would con.

.

.

.

demn." In view of the animosity toward the Hudson's Bay Company, fostered in some degree by the Mission, he had made Sir George improvements at the Falls in his own name. Simpson, however, was not in favor of this project, since it would eventually be located upon territory of the United States, consequently McLoughlin could get no authorization from the Company to act either for himself or for it. When, thereafter, attempts were made to encroach upon his claim he could but protest and point to the fact that he had established A rival mill was built on the his claim many years before. island and, as the emigrants of 1842 began to arrive, people sought lots at this desirable location. ".

.

went so far in my zeal as to risk my private on the works at Wallamette Falls so as to from persons who wanted to get it in order to use

.

.

many

I

means

to carry

secure

it

23 See letter from McLoughlin to Governor, etc., of the Hudson's Bay Company, 20 Nov., 1845, his last official communication and the one in which he In Am. Hist. Review, XXI, 110-34. his resignation. Incidentally this letter disposes of the oft repeated charge that it was the purpose of the Company to drive Americans out of Oregon.

announced