American Fur Company

“ The rendezvous of this year was at Bonneville's old fort on Green River, and was the last one held in the mountains by the American Fur Company. Beaver was growing scarce, and competition was strong. On the disbanding of the company, some went to Santa Fe, some to California, others to the Lower Columbia, and a few remained in the mountains trapping, and selling their furs to the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Hall. ”

“ It is an average computation of the furs obtained every year, and the value of each to the American Fur Company. The Hudson Bay Company are supposed to average about the same quantity, or rather more; and they have a larger proportion of valuable furs, such as beaver and sable, but they have few deer and no buffalo. When we consider how sterile and unfit for cultivation are these wild northern regions, it certainly appears better that they should remain as they are:—
besides skunks, ground-hogs, hares, and many others. ”

“ We do not, at present, possess any accurate and detailed account of these people, for the American Fur Company, who trade with them, and therefore have had the best opportunity of becoming acquainted with them, seldom take any interest in scientific researches. ”

“ At this meeting Major Joshua Pilcher, as agent for the American Fur Company, formally and legally took over the interests of Bridger, Fitzpatrick, and Fontenelle, thus consolidating the monopoly. The missionaries, accompanied by Hudson’s Bay Company agents, followed the Bear River route westward. The fur trappers were left in the mountains with Drips, Fontenelle, and Bridger. Says Osborne Russell:
Mr. ”

“ The first man to take up the work begun by the heroes we have been noticing was John Jacob Astor, who, after long negotiations with the various companies struggling for the monopoly of the fur-trade of the North, succeeded in founding yet another association, under the name of the Pacific Fur Company. ”

“ Congress would not let Canadians trade in furs within the American frontier; and the Company was dissolved.
Astor had been putting together some separate facts about furs; and out of his meditations grew one of the grandest schemes that ever occurred to a private citizen. A sea otter which had a very fine fur had been found to abound all along the coast of the Pacific. This was one fact. Another was that the Chinese were the best customers for furs in the world, and that they especially prized the skins of this sea otter. ”

“ Serge Koussevitsky who began in 1924, and his term as conductor has extended far beyond any single term of the ten previous conductors. The long association of such an orchestra with such a leader is eloquently justified by the results. The great Russian conductor has brought new beauties to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a fresh importance and distinction reflected in the greatly enlarged public. The festivals and special choral concerts, the broadened repertory, new and old, of the regular concerts and the quality of each performance are as indefinable as the genius which directs them. ”

“ If you are not too tired you may continue on your way over the shore road making the complete trip around Cape Ann, a promontory which extends out into the Atlantic Ocean with its beautiful entrancing rocks, beaches and rolling sea. ”

“ To the stranger who does not know the true topography of Massachusetts but who recalls various poems and songs, it is always a surprise not to find a “stern and rock-bound coast.” Sand is in great abundance, the beaches and sand bluffs extending in all directions. ”

“ The Boston you see around you today is the capital city of the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a population, in its Greater Boston area, of 2,307,897, and it covers 1022.6 square miles. The town was settled over three hundred years ago by a God-loving people of rugged character, industry and vision. ”

“ No funerals, marriages or social entertainments add to its income. The church is built of Indiana limestone and New Hampshire granite, New Hampshire being the native state of Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science. The great organ is a notable instrument, its gilded pipes rising behind the quiet and dignified rostrum whereon stand the two desks for the readers who conduct the services. ”

“ Leaving the State House, walk straight down Beacon Street with the Boston Common on your left. Cross Charles Street and enter the
Public Gardens
This is about one-half the size of the Common and contains an artificial pond of irregular shape, the beauty of which is enhanced by the graceful swan boats which glide over its surface. A monument commemorating the discovery of ether is erected at one side of the Gardens; thousands of men and women visit this shrine yearly. ”

“ The history of this great company goes back to 1623 when the Pilgrim Fathers founded Gloucester. There is every evidence to prove that the present officers are descendants of the original settlers even though the present company had its organization in 1849. ”

“ At the end of a row, tie in new color and continue in pattern. In Scandinavian, Fair Isle or Ski patterns the additional colors are carried on the wrong side of work. Designs of this type are usually worked from a chart with a color code. When changing colors always twist yarns around each other to prevent a hole. If color is carried over more than 4 sts, the carried color should be twisted around the yarn that is being worked to prevent loose lengths on wrong side. Twist the 14 yarn in following manner; pick up carried color, before knitting st in usual manner twist over yarn that is carried. ”

“ It is probable a day is at hand when all this area will be dotted with farms, villages and cities, a time when its forests will be uprooted and the plains of Rupert's Land and the North-West Territory tilled by the husbandman, its hills and valleys exploited by the miner; yet, certain spots in this vast region must ever bear testimony to the hunter of furs. Remote, solitary, often hungry and not seldom frozen—the indomitable servant of the Great Fur Company lived here his life and gave his name to mountain, lake and river. ”

“ At the edge of the cemetery we find an old granite milestone which bears the inscription “Boston 8 miles 1734.”
Entering our car we swing left around the Common following the traffic arrows and pass
Harvard University
This is the oldest and in many ways the most distinguished school of learning in the United States. Built in 1636. However, this priority is oftentimes disputed as William and Mary College in Virginia claims its date of charter to be 1617. In order to visit Harvard you should set aside a whole day. ”

“ Boston Opera House
Located on the corner of Opera Place, which was formerly called St. Stephen’s, for years it has been used for the Metropolitan Opera singers, as well as local opera. Leaving the Opera House, we again turn right on Huntington Avenue and proceed to the
Museum of Fine Arts
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts occupies the unique position of being one of the few museums in the world created and supported solely by private citizens. The Museum is well equipped with guides who are commissioned to explain to the visitors any part of the collection about which one wishes to know. ”

“ The general effect is one of breadth, spaciousness, and all pervading light. Within and without, the church demands attention and admiration as one of the largest and most impressive churches in the world. ”

“ Yarn indicated in the directions as only an experienced expert knitter knows how to allow for the difference when a substitution is made. It is also very important to purchase all the yarn needed at one time as different dye lots frequently have different shades of color. ”

“ The Boston Public Gardens will be on your left and after crossing Charles Street the Boston Common will be on the left. At the second stop light turn left at Tremont Street. Continue along Tremont Street, still passing the Common on the left, until we come to the Old Park Street Church, spoken of in one of our earlier chapters, the Granary Cemetery, the Parker House (made famous by Parker House rolls) , opposite which is King’s Chapel and King’s Chapel burying ground. ”

“ Rip the last row a stitch at a time placing each stitch on a free needle, preferably a finer double pointed needle, then place these sts back on size needle you are using. Continue knitting as directed.
PICKING UP STITCHES ...
around neck and armholes is usually done with smaller needles. Hold the work with right side toward you and work from right to left. Insert right needle into the first st from edge, pick up stitches (Ill. No. 32) . When picking up stitches on an irregular edge be sure to pick up a stitch in every row. Always work with the right side toward you unless otherwise directed. ”

“ SMALL RUG: With Gray ch 72, insert hook in 4th st from hook, pull loop through, yarn over, insert hook in same space, pull loop through, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, * skip 1 st of ch, insert hook in next st, pull loop through, yarn over, insert hook in same space, pull loop through, yarn over and work off all loops at one time, repeat from * across ch, cut yarn (35 patterns) . Attach Cream (when changing color always complete last half of last st made with next color) , turn. ”

“ At the rate fur-bearing animals are being killed off at the present time, there would not be fur enough thirty years from now to properly clothe the nobility of the old world, to say nothing of our American women who must have their new furs each season, and the others who must have at least one or two sets during a lifetime. The fur industry is admittedly fast dying a violent death. ”

“ Pass the Green and turn right at Monument Street. About one-half mile down this street, we come to the old Battle Field. Park your car in the space provided and walk through the Parkway to the
CONCORD BRIDGE
Concord Bridge
Here we see the grave of the unknown British soldiers and the Minute Man statue, erected to the heroes “who fired the shot heard round the world.” You will be impressed by the beautiful surroundings and the silence. When you have dreamed long enough, 21 get in the car, drive back to Concord Green, turn left on to Route 126. ”

“ It has been restored to its ancient condition—a rare place to visit. A hidden stairway runs from the attic and it has many other thrilling features. The ancient garden adds much to its loveliness, and as a special treat for the visitors, they may also go through the Hooper Hathaway house, once known as the old bakery, and which formerly stood at Washington Street, north of the entrance to the tunnel.
OLD DOORWAY—SALEM
Retracing your way along Turner Street, cross Derby Street and follow Turner to Essex where you turn left passing the Stevens Daniel House. ”

“ THE CITY OF CULTURE
★
Ask the people at your hotel to direct you to the nearest subway and ride to Park Street. As you leave the car at Park Street, you are in the oldest subway in the world, except, perhaps, the one in Budapest which always has disputed with Boston this particular claim. This subway was opened in Boston in September, 1897. Going up the stairs, you will emerge from the subway onto the famous Boston Common. Turn left, and you will have no trouble in finding the
State House
STATE HOUSE
Located on Beacon Street at the head of Park Street. ”

“ Learn to recognize when it is wrong. Watch the yarn to see where each loop of the stitch begins and ends. If you lay your knitting aside for a few days or longer, always rip back a few rows before starting again. This will prevent an uneven row. See page 12 for ripping back.
Parentheses in our instructions are used for an explanation of a st, a certain section of a garment, or change of sts for change of size. A ROW is once across the needle. A RIDGE is 2 rows, back and forth. WORK EVEN, means to continue in pattern st keeping the continuity of the design. ”

“ Rug is worked firmly throughout.
With Green ch 22, 3 s c in 2nd st from hook, 1 s c in each of the next 19 sts of ch, 3 s c in next st, working on other side of ch, work 1 s c in each of the next 19 sts, do not join this or the following rows. Place a marker at beginning of each row. ”

“ Here met Colonial Courts and Legislators, town and city governments and the General Court of the Commonwealth. It was used as a City Hall from 1830 to 1840. It is open to the public from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m., daily. From the windows, one may look out on the Washington Street side and see the site of Paul Revere’s Silver Shop.
Leaving the old State House, pause for a moment at Number 28 9 State Street. Here is another historic site where stood the Royal Exchange Tavern, from which the first stage coach started to New York on September 7, 1772, “to go once every fourteen days.” ”

“ The skunk, mink and muskrat do well in settled sections. There is always a cash market for raw furs and since the discovery of America, raw furs have been an important article of commerce. An industry paying the hunter and trapper probably $15,000,000 yearly is one that should receive attention. The demand for furs is increasing as the population of the world is becoming more and more. ”

“ When the journey is undertaken in the winter, which is very seldom the case, it is performed on snow-shoes, and no canoes are taken. Fur animals are scarce, yet some few Beavers and Otters are caught, a few Martens and Sables, and some Foxes and Lynx, but every year diminishes their numbers. The Fur Company may be called the exterminating medium of these wild and almost uninhabitable climes, where cupidity and the love of gold can alone induce man to reside for a while. ”

“ The dyer and his art have greatly changed the fur trade. It is he who enables the salesgirl to wear furs that look like those of her customers. For example, here is a coat made of the best beaver. Its price is four hundred dollars, and beside it is another made of dyed rabbit fur, marked one hundred and fifty dollars. It is hard for a novice to tell which is the better. All sorts of new names have been devised by the furriers to popularize dyed skins of humble animals, from house cats to skunks, in order to increase the supply of good-looking and durable furs. ”