Studies in American History 
117 
raccoons at low prices so as to realize a profit of $50,000.^^^ In 
this instance their hopes were more than realized and by the 
sales of 1845 they realized a profit of nearly $75,000.^^^ 
The failure of the American Fur Company gave rise to a 
host of small competitors. In the west, Pierre Chouteau con- 
tinued his operations independently and tried to keep the 
Ewings out. William Brewster continued to trade at Detroit 
and he now showed ability of a high order. From Louisville, 
Van Winkle was invading the southern Indiana held. Again 
there were bickerings between the Ewings and Brewster, and 
promises of agreement on prices which came to nothing.^^^ In 
the fur country, prices were again run up while the market in 
Europe was declining. Lampson himself besought the “old 
stagers” to agree on prices that would bring a proht, but his 
warnings were in vain.^“® The furriers were looking more 
and more for substitutes for raccoon, and fashion was turning 
from furs to woolens. Cattle skins were taking the place 
of deer skins for leather. Experienced buyers believed the 
end of the fur business was in sight.^^"^ Ewings’ collections 
of 1844 and 1845, which reached London in the fall of 1845, 
promised a loss of $15,000.^^^ By the spring of 1846 they were 
in debt $145,000, with the prospect of a collapse of the fur 
market.^2® 
Under these circumstances the Ewings once more curtailed 
their fur buying. They ceased to fight for raccoons and 
turned their attention to the Indian trade farther west. They 
continued, however, to ship considerable quantities of raccoon 
until 1848, but lost on each shipment.^^® They tried in various 
ways to hold their fur business without danger to themselves. 
They complained of their competitors and threatened to run 
up prices.^^^ 
In 1848 they made an agreement with Pierre Chouteau Jr., 
and Company of St. Louis to purchase furs on joint account 
in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, The Chouteau Company 
123 W. G. Ewing to G. W. Ewing, Ft. Wayne, May 2, 1843, in ihid. 
•124 Suydam, Sage, and Company to Ewings, April 18, 1845, in ihid. 
125 W. G. Ewing to William Brewster, June 4, 1843, in ihid. 
126 C. M. Lampson to W. G. and G. W. Ewing, London, August 26, 1845, in ihid. 
121 Suydam, Sage, and Company to the Ewings, January 26, 1846, in ihid. 
125 W. G. Ewing, November 9, 1845, in ihid. 
126 Suydam, Sage, and Company, February 6, 1846, in ihid. 
126 Suydam, Sage, and Company to Ewing, Chute, and Company, May 9, 1849, in ihid. 
121 Ewing and Walker to W. G. Ewing, Logansport, December 4, 1847, in ibid. 
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