Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-10-20
THE REINDEER.
Their transportation from Siberia to
Northern Regions In America.


Their Transportation from siberia to
Northern Regions In America.
Within the last few years the Eski-
mos who inhabit the Arctic and Behr-
ing sea coasts in Alaska have often
been reduced almost to starvation, rs
the result of the fact that the whale
and walrus, which have always been
the source of their food supply. have
been nearly exterminated by whalers.
These Eskimos are peaceable. friend
~ and fairly intelligent people, and
much sympathy has been felt toward
them. For some years it had been sug-
gested that, If they were taught to rear
and make use of the reindeer, upon
which the tribes of the far north in Eu-
rope and Asia almost woolly subsist,
they could easily dispense with whales
and walruses, and be not only much
better off, but in fairer way to ad.
vance in civilization.
Congress. which had already estab-
lished industrial schools for the benefit
of the natives of Alaska, was asked
last year to make an appropriation to
bring reindeer from Siberia and to pro
vide means to teach the EskimOs. In
these schools, how to manage the ami
mails. Congress failed to make such an
appropria ton: and as the case was ur.
gent, money was subscribed by private
persons in this country to buy few
reindeer and bring them over.
The Siberian natives are as greatly
attached to their rein deer as the Arat
are to their horses, and it was feared
that it would be impossible to get them
to part with any good specimens. 1t
was also feared that, if the deer were
obtained, they could not be kept alive
that they will not eat food that has
been touched by a white man.
However, the United States educa
ton agent for ALASKA visited Siberia
last year. and succeeded in getting few
reindeer. just as travellers have succeed
ed in getting Arabian horses, by tempt
ing the cupidty of their possessors He
also succeeded in transporting the deer
several hundred miles across the ST.
berian mainland and Behring sea to
Oonalaska in Alaska. Here, upon a
wooden island, the reindeer were left
to take care of themselves over winter.
In May last the United States steam
err Bear visited Oonalasl<a to see how
the reindeer had wintered. They were
found to be plumb. in excellent condi
ton, and evidedtly enjoying their new
home.
During the present season it is in.
tended to bring over several hundred
more reindeer from Siberia, together
with a sufficient number of Siberian
herders, and to take them all to Port
Clarence, on the Alaskan mainland.
From this point they will be distribu-
ted through the native industrial
schools. The Siberian herders will
teach the native Alaskans how to take
care of and make use of their new &C
QUESTIONS.
Little by little it is proposed to ex-
tend the use of the deer through Alaska,
and eventually to establish a sort of
reindeer express to the Arctic shores,
which will greatly assist in opening up
the vast interior region of Alaska to
some degree of civilization at the same
time that the animals relieve the neces-
sites of the natives.
The extent to which the Laplanders
and other people of the far north de-
pend upon the reindeer is well known.
There seems to be no good reason why
the reindeer should not flourish as well
in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of
America as in Asia and Europe
Youths COMPANION.