Thompson's story of a trip to the Columbia in 1801? There were two lines along which such exact information would probably be sought. The Canadians, following Mackenzie's suggestion, might work their way across the Rockies from the head waters of the Saskatchewan, in which case they would reach one of the great branches of the Columbia and readily descend it to the sea. On the other hand, the young American nation, prompted by its interest in the Mississippi system, might seek the Columbia by way of the Missouri connection. Both lines of communication were bound to be utilized in time and circumstances would determine which should have the precedence. There is some reason to believe that an attempt was made by the Northwest Company of Canada in or about the year 1 80 1, to carry out Mackenzie's plan to connect the Canadian trade with a Columbia River trade. David Thompson, who was for many years geographer of the company, stated in 1845 that he led a party across the Rockies to the head waters of McGillivray's River, a branch of the Columbia, but was driven back by the Indians. Thus the project, if it was really undertaken, ended in failure.[1]
From this time forward the major interest in the overland route to the Pacific shifts to the United
- ↑ In David Thompson's Memorial to the British Government. In Pub. Record Office, London. F. O. America, 440. Information has reached me which indicates that Thompson's MS journals fail to support this claim. One of the McGillivrays in 1801 approached the divide near the sources of the Saskatchewan. Letter of T. C. Elliott, dated Jan. 7, 1916.
