York Factory Express

The York Factory Express, usually called "the Express" and also the Columbia Express and the Communication, was a 19th century fur brigade operated by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). Roughly 4,200 kilometres (2,600 mi) in length, it was the main overland connection between HBC headquarters at York Factory and the principal station of Columbia Department, Fort Vancouver.

It was named "express" because it was not used only to transport furs and supplies but also to quickly move departmental reports and letters. The express brigade was known as the York Factory Express on its eastbound journey in the spring, and as the Columbia Express or Autumn Express on its westbound journey in the fall. The same route was used in both cases. To expedite messages the express messengers would often speed ahead of the main bodies carrying supplies and furs.

The bulk of supplies and trade goods for the Columbia District were brought from Britain to Fort Vancouver every year by ship around South America, not overland via the York Factory Express route. Management at Fort Vancouver tried to maintain one year's extra supplies on hand in case a shipment might be lost at sea or attempting to cross the bar at the mouth of the Columbia River. The furs acquired by trading and trapping during the previous year were sent back on the supply ships and sold in London in an annual fur sale.

The York Factory Express evolved from an earlier route used by the North West Company (NWC). During the War of 1812 the NWC and their American competitors, the Pacific Fur Company (PFC), struggled commercially over the Columbia River basin. Established at the mouth of the Columbia was the principal station of the PFC, Fort Astoria, named after its principal financial patron, John Jacob Astor. The PFC was peaceably liquidated in 1813, with its stations and some of its employees joining the NWC. Renaming Fort Astora to Fort George, the NWC developed an overland supply route from there to its headquarters at Fort William on Lake Superior. In the ensuing years, the NWC would continue to expand its operations in the Pacific Northwest. Skirmishes with its major competitor, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), had already flared into the Pemmican War. The end of the conflict in 1821 saw the NWC mandated by the British Government to merge into the HBC.

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