Chief Factor Richard Hardisty's Description of the Post in 1882.

I hardly know what to say in favour of this post. The Indians surrounding it, are making an attempt to settle on their farms, and live by them, but this they fail to do and trust to the Government to feed them, and I fear they are only getting into lazy and indolent habits and I consider this place, as regards the fur trade from them, is not worth keeping up.

Clerk Francis D. Wilson's description of the post, 1889

The abandonment of the post has also had its effect on the trade, the Indians having formed business connections with the traders which it has been my earnest endeavour to break off. I am happy to say that in this direction I have met with greater success that I anticipated and the feeling of the Indian and half-breed towards the company is as good now as in the old days when Victoria was a more important post. In my opinion the commercial business of the post will never be much importance, as so much of the land in the neighbourhood is unfit for settlement. The settlers are entirely half breed and although they live nominally by farming they really produce very little and depend upon their cattle and what little they can earn by freighting or otherwise for sustenance...

Return to the Fur Trade Menu
Return to Smoky Lake History Archive