The Home of the Wolverene and Deavcr. 1 1 7 



the obstructions which had previously existed to 

 the export of furs v/ere removed, Astor's intimate 

 acquaintance with the trappers and traders of the 

 North and West became of the greatest use, and he 

 was soon able to send the furs he purchased to 

 Europe and China (the best mart in the world for 

 the furrier) in his own ships, \\hich brought back 

 other produce to the American market, so that he 

 reaped a double profit, and soon became one of the 

 wealthiest men in New York. His business ex- 

 tended until it embraced markets in every quarter 

 of the globe, and it is recorded that so exact was 

 his acquaintance with these markets, and so wide 

 was the grasp of his mind, that he was able to 

 guide the actions of his supercargoes and captains 

 by the most minute instructions. At this time, 

 while his commerce covered the seas, he was in the 

 habit of visiting his warehouses and showing: the 

 workmen that he could equal the best of them in 

 sorting and beating furs. 



At the commencement of the present century 

 Mr. Astor began to revolve colossal schemes for 

 supplying all the markets in the world with furs, 

 and for colonisation by planting towns and villages 

 in the wilds of the western continent. He obtained 

 the patronage of the Government for sending 

 supply ships regularly to the Pacific coast, espe- 



