TIic Home of tJic Wolverene and Beaver. 4 5 



also naturally longed for a share of the rich spoil, 

 and in 1809 the Pacific Fur Company was started 

 by an enterprising German-American, John Jacob 

 Astor, whose ambitious views were directed to no 

 less an object than the acquirement, by purchase 

 or otherwise, of the whole fur trade of the Conti- 

 nent. Although the latter association was styled a 

 " Company," it was in reality nothing more than 

 the private speculation of Mr. Astor, who supplied 

 the whole of the capital and appointed all the 

 nominal partners. In the very outset the Pacific 

 Fur Company was unlucky, losing a ship with 

 many valuable stores, and pursued by the bitter 

 enmity of the North-West Company, who were 

 little disposed to tolerate a rival. Added to all 

 this war broke out between Great Britain and the 

 United States in 1812, and thus Mr. Astor was cut 

 off from sea communication with his great central 

 depot, which was situated at the mouth of the 

 Columbia River in Oregon, and somewhat grandilo- 

 quently named " Astoria." Foiled on all sides, the 

 great speculator was compelled to come to terms 

 with his rivals, and on the i6th of October, 18 13, 

 the North-West Company took over at a valuation 

 the whole of the goods belonging to the soi-disant 

 Pacific Fur Company, and changed the name of 

 the depot from Astoria to Fort George. 



