Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-08
Reindeer IN ALASKA.
Project Is Successful. ana Will BE of
Vast Benefit.

ana the secretary oil the interior Has
asked Congress TO appropriate enough
money to extend the enterprise upon
basis that will make it of immediate
value to the ISkimOS and white miners
who have been attracted TO that terri
tory by the gold deposits. Beginning
with 1891 the bureau of education has
been given an annual appropriation of
$500 with which TO purchase rein
deer in Siberia and hire the necessary
herdcrS to care for the animals and i'll
struct the natives. That year sixteen
deer were purchased: in 1852. Ill; in
1898 the number was increased III by
purchase. 81 fawEs were born ana
died: in 1891 120 were purchased. 1S6
fawns were born and 10 died: last year
1870 deer were brought from Siberia,
Dos fawns were born and 22 died. 1t
will thus be seen that during the five
years ga reindeer were purchased and
delivered in Alaska and that the nat
ural increase by fawns was 511, of
which only IL died.
The slaughter of the seals and walrus
during recent years has practically eN-
terminated those animals so far as the
ESkimoS are concerned. who have been
reduced to Il condition of starvation.
which suggested TO Or. Jackson the in
PRODUCTION OF the reindeer for food rs
we'll rs for transportation. The idea.
while considered feasible from the be-
ginning. has been given n thorough
ticability beyond question. But at the
rate OF progress which has been posi-
bic with the meagcr appropriation
available it would take ut least fifty
years to stock Alaska. The discovery
of rich gold veins has acted more han
1000 white miners 10 the central part
of the territory. where the thermometer
hOverS in the ncighbcrhood of - de-
grecS below zero during the winter
months. and all food must be imported.
Most of the deer acquired for the cX-
pertinent were purchased in Siberia
and brought to Alaska in government
vessels free of transportation charges.
As the latter item is The greatest cX-
penSe In" small appropriation was Suf-
iicient IL establish the necessary sta
tons and give thorough trial. There
are in northern. central and western
Alaska at least 100000 square miles
of territory not adapted To agriculture
or cattle raising and without IN AIDE
Quatc food supply for the native Is
kimo or the white population now going
into the gCl districts. over this vast
region there is Il growth Of long. iibrouS
white moss. the natural food of the
reindeer. Easing the estimate upon
statistics obtained in l.apland. where
14.0eO square miles feed 49,, :,6S head of
reindeer. or tN.cmty-tl.ree to The square
mile Alaska. where similar conditions
prevail, should sustain 1T least 9.200.-
coo deer. worth st the rate prevailing
in Sweden 50 per head IS, Sc0.GU0
The original purpose of introducing
domestic reindeer into Alaska was to
provide Il new AMI rcrnlanen. food sup
ply for the half-famished Eskimo.
Previous To the discovery OF gold there
was nothing in he country To attract
whites except for hunting. but new Sil-
lagos are springing Up i'm all directions.
and with groceries. breadstuffs and
other provisions scarce. and imported
at great expense. ii is considered also
iutely essential to It's future prosperity
that the reindeer. which can exist on
the moss. should be introduced IN suf-
ficient quantity TO supply the food and
clothing necessary for the rapidly III
crcasing population. There are no
roads in Alaska. ana prevailing coEdi-
tions VIII prevent any being made for
I years to come. Travelling III present IS
confined almost entirely to dog teams.
which is at he rate OF from fifteen 10
: twenty-five miles Il day. In many see
! tons Of the country dog teams cannot
| he used. because they cannot carry Suf-
! ficient food to suhSit them on route and
must confinc their journeys from set
| Element to settlement within easy dis
! lance. One dog team hauling equip
mcnts or passengers must be accom-
s, panied by another to haul supplies. and
| the cost of transportation is thus cnOr-
mOusly increased. With reindeer trans
pOrtatiOn the conditions are different
| From fifty to ninety miles Il day can be
covered by them across lots and ut
! night they are permitted to browse for
| themselves. The best authorities con-
slider them absolutely essential TO bind
together the isolated settlements and
| growing centers of civilization in that
wild nOrthland and render possible the
! development of the gold mines and the
support of hundreds of thousands Of
miners who will soon be at work there.
The reindeer multiply and increase
so rapidly that DR.. Jackson estimates
that 5000 in addition to the herds al
| ready in Alaska will we'll stock the
| country. and he is anxious to get them
within the next three years. Ii is for
| that purpose that the appropriation Of
$500 has been asked of Congress.
That sum will buy ,:5CO deer i'm Siberia.
transport and deliver them in Alaska
and pay the her,lers who are necessary
TO look after them and instruct the