Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-05
RAISING REINDEER.
The Government stock Farms Estab-
lished I'm Alaska.

The reindeer enterprise in Alaska, or the
effort to introduce the raising Of these ami
mails for the benefit of the Inhabitants of
that part of the United States. Is in a very
promising condition. Capt. NJ. A. Healy OF
the revenue steamer Bear, who has spent
much time in Alaska. and whose duty Is
to inspect the management of the reindeer
station at Port Clarence. as well as the
purchase Of the animals in Siberia, has sub
mitted an interesting report to the Treas
ury Department. He says:
Congress by making an appropriation
during it's last session for the Introduction
of domesticated reindeer of Siberia into the
territory of Alaska has by that act empha-
sized It's approval of the project. The In
terror department has also shown deep in
terest in the matter by many official acts.
and the Treasury Department has an
nounced Its sympathy with the movement
IN unmistakable terms. great number
OF philanthropists have given their strong
est Endorsement of 1t by many contribu-
lions. and no more forcible evidence of
earnestness than this can be adduced. Any
thing that man can accomplish can be done
with an adequate fund to work with. The
interest shown by Congress. by private in
dividuals and the material aid furnished
by them have resulted In the establishment
Of what is known as Port Clarence Rein
deer Station.
The experience of two years has demon
strated beyond a doubt that the purchase
in Siberia and the transportation to Alaska
Of domesticated deer is possible. feasible
and practicable. and il one winter may be
taken as a criterion, the deer when once
landed on our side grow more vigorously
and thrive better in Alaska than in Siberia.
While vast numbers of the deer died last
winter in Siberia owing to the severity Of
the season, those that were landed last
summer in Alaska did wonderfully we'll
during the same winter. They found an
throughout the year, and they multiplied
in remarkable ratio. The fact being es-
tablished that the deer can be easily bought
and as easily transported. and when once
Infinitely better or this coast than on that
of Siberia for their increase and propaga-
ton, IL appears that the natural state OF
things being proven advantageous the sue
cess of the project rests entirely with the
methods employed in the management of
the government reindeer stock farm. With
proper management based on strict
business principles l can foresee. without
being Utopian, great benefits that will come
to the natives and to the country at large
since the location the NATURAL advantages
OF Port Clarence have been tested and
found conducive to the propagation of the
deer, 1 would suggest that the government
reserve a large tract Of land here includ-
ing coast and interior sections, in order to
protect against presumption by private
parties and thus to secure a permanency
animals will thrive.
Had 1 the organization Of the establish
ment would call to my aid the methods
employed on the model stock farms of the
west. the modes of conducting similar work
In many agricultural and Industrial col
ieges. and the systems inforced at various
religious missions where success I'm the
management of stock has been at hand
with these as guides / would draw I'D regu-
lations for the government of the reindeer
Iarm- Of course the information obtained
from the above sources would be modified
by the peculiar conditions existing in this
undertaking, and as the industry deyeloped
and the interests become widely spread
other notifications would doubtless be
necessary.