. The great American book of biography . establishing a cen-tral depot and post at the mouthof the Columbia river. He pro-posed sending regular supplyships to the Pacific posts aroundCape Horn. It was part of hisplan, if possible, to obtain pos-session of one of the SandwichIslands as a station, for from thePacific coast he knew that theChinese market for his peltriescould be most convenientlyreached, and thus the necessityfor a long and circuitous voyagebe avoided. Instead of bringingthe furs intended for China toNew York, they could be sentfrom the Pacific. By the supply ships, too, the stoc
. The great American book of biography . establishing a cen-tral depot and post at the mouthof the Columbia river. He pro-posed sending regular supplyships to the Pacific posts aroundCape Horn. It was part of hisplan, if possible, to obtain pos-session of one of the SandwichIslands as a station, for from thePacific coast he knew that theChinese market for his peltriescould be most convenientlyreached, and thus the necessityfor a long and circuitous voyagebe avoided. Instead of bringingthe furs intended for China toNew York, they could be sentfrom the Pacific. By the supply ships, too, the stock of goods suitable for theIndian trade would be kept up there, and the cargoes purchased with the pro-ceeds of the furs sold in China brought back to New York. The line of postsacross the continent would become a line of towns ; emigration would follow,and civilization would belt the condnent. A company was formed, at the head of which stood Mr. Astor, and anelaborate and carefully arranged plan of operations prepared. Two expeditions. [ BLOCK HOUSE, ALASKA. FAILURE OF THE ASTORIA SCHEME. 477 were dispatched to the mouth of the Cohimbia, one by land, the other by hardships were encountered, but the foundation of a settlement was suc-cessfully made on the Columbia. In spite of the war with England (1812-15),the enterprise would have been successful had Mr. Astors positive instruc-tions been obeyed. They were utterly disregarded, however, and his partnersand agents not only betrayed him in every instance, but sold his property to arival British company for a mere trifle. His pecuniary loss was over a milliondollars, and his disappointment bitter beyond When the news ofthe final betrayal reached him, he wrote: Had our place and property beenfairly captured, I should have preferred it; I should not feel as if I were dis-graced. Mr. Astor remained in active business for fifty years. During that entireperiod he scarcely committed an error of judgment wh
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