Page 300 |
Previous | 300 of 520 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
276 THROUGH T H E MACKENZIE BASIN
as by the United Companies since 1821; but tbe writer
must, however, be pardoned for making one or two out of
numerous published references thereto. Bancroft, the American
historian, writes that, in his opinion,—
Of all associations formed at any time or place for the purpose
of obtaining the skins of fur- bearing animals, the North- West Company
of Montreal was the most daring, dashing, audacious and
ultimately successful. Its energy was only surpassed by the apathy
of its great chartered rival, which had been in existence one hundred
and thirteen years. Canada had been twenty years in British
possession when it was organized, without assistance, privileges
or government favours, by a few Scottish Canadians for the better
prosecution of a business with which they were all more or less
familiar.
Simon Dawson, chief surveyor of the Hind Expedition
of 1857- 58, who had visited Eorts Garry, Ellice, Swan
River, and many other Hudson's Bay Company's posts, has
put himself on record thus:
It is impossible not to admire the order and system which are
everywhere observed in the management of the Company's posts
and trade. It is a vast system of economy, carried out with the
utmost sagacity and foresight in all its details, and a system, too,
which seems to work equally well under circumstances widely
different. In the back settlements of Canada, as on the stormy
shores of Labrador, among the warring tribes of the plains, or in
the frozen regions of the far north, it seems to be alike successful.
An organization so perfect can only be traced to the agency of
superior management, and I am of the opinion that the success
of the United Companies is as much due to the high talent of the
officers who have the direction of their affairs as to other circumstances
to which it is more frequently attributed, and there can
be no doubt that the same judgment, care and economy brought
to bear on any pursuit would meet with a very marked measure of
success.
In course of a speech delivered in " Winnipeg, in October,
1881, the Marquis of Lome, then Governor- General of
Canada and now Duke of Argyll, said:
Let me advert for one moment to some of the causes which
have enabled settlers in this vast North- West country to enjoy in
Object Description
Description
| Title | Page 300 |
| OCR | 276 THROUGH T H E MACKENZIE BASIN as by the United Companies since 1821; but tbe writer must, however, be pardoned for making one or two out of numerous published references thereto. Bancroft, the American historian, writes that, in his opinion,— Of all associations formed at any time or place for the purpose of obtaining the skins of fur- bearing animals, the North- West Company of Montreal was the most daring, dashing, audacious and ultimately successful. Its energy was only surpassed by the apathy of its great chartered rival, which had been in existence one hundred and thirteen years. Canada had been twenty years in British possession when it was organized, without assistance, privileges or government favours, by a few Scottish Canadians for the better prosecution of a business with which they were all more or less familiar. Simon Dawson, chief surveyor of the Hind Expedition of 1857- 58, who had visited Eorts Garry, Ellice, Swan River, and many other Hudson's Bay Company's posts, has put himself on record thus: It is impossible not to admire the order and system which are everywhere observed in the management of the Company's posts and trade. It is a vast system of economy, carried out with the utmost sagacity and foresight in all its details, and a system, too, which seems to work equally well under circumstances widely different. In the back settlements of Canada, as on the stormy shores of Labrador, among the warring tribes of the plains, or in the frozen regions of the far north, it seems to be alike successful. An organization so perfect can only be traced to the agency of superior management, and I am of the opinion that the success of the United Companies is as much due to the high talent of the officers who have the direction of their affairs as to other circumstances to which it is more frequently attributed, and there can be no doubt that the same judgment, care and economy brought to bear on any pursuit would meet with a very marked measure of success. In course of a speech delivered in " Winnipeg, in October, 1881, the Marquis of Lome, then Governor- General of Canada and now Duke of Argyll, said: Let me advert for one moment to some of the causes which have enabled settlers in this vast North- West country to enjoy in |
Tags
Comments
Post a Comment for Page 300
