The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-23

The Fsktrsao~ of Arctic Alaska TO Be
transformed Into Herisfnea.
The secretary OF the Interior has APPROX
I'd and forwarded 70 congress she recon-
raendaiion OF the commissioner OF ecac2-
tfon that the sum OF s45.eDe should be ap-
propriated the present year for the par
chase Of reindeer. the same 70 ee fur-
nished By the lowest bidder and delivered
al suitable places on the Alaskan coast
Fifteen hundred 10 2sa reindeer would.
IL 10 thought, be secured ny TINS sum.
Added 20 the 80 or more deer already In
the herd kept al Port Clarence, near ber-
Ing strait. there Will he q stock OF zSo or
more The natural increase OF herd OF
reindeer, Judging from the experiences OF
the last four years IN ALASKA. amounts 20
upward Of 90 per cent increase OF the en-
tire herd. With 3.eee reindeer the annual
Increase would be at least i.5e. and the
bureau of education could distribute IN
the first year a SUFFICIENT number 10 each
missionary station and white settlement
60 provide herds OF from LOO to 20 each.
These. under the care of Lapiand herds
men and with additions from the central
herd on the following years. would soon
grow TO BE- large herds Through the ef-
forts OF the missionary schools and the
government schools the natives would
learn 10 breed and train the reindeer and
the native population would thus be rails
ed from the savage state of mere hunt
ers and fishermen 70 the higher condition
OF nomads or herdsmen. Whereas now
intercommunication between the villages
in Alaska Is very precarious In the win
ter time due 20 the fact that the dogs
that draw the sledges have TO creep along
from village 20 village IN order 10 procure
their necessary food. On the other hand
the reindeer can procure his food imIne-
dietely from the moss under tire snow at
-. T. lzrZ a
dogs travel al the rate OF thirty-five miles
a day while the reindeer travels ninety
miles day IL would be possible to have
communication with all of the settlements
scattered through Alaska. once in two
weeks during the long winter season.
Once large herds of reindeer are establish
ed in Alaska a plentiful supply of the
best food win become everywhere avail
able. The danger 10 miners and other set
tiers who run the risk OF coming short OF
provisions In case OF mishaps to their an
nual stores would be removed. as well as
the danger TO those natives who have been
deprived Of their food by the destruction
of the wairus and whale. There is no
reason why a large population OF hardy
people should not live and find profitable
Industries In Alaska. The one food supply
that amounts to anything IS the long,
white fbrous moss Caledonia Rangiferal.
which exists I'm such abundance that TO-
900. 900 OF reindeer can subsist upon IL with
In the territory OF Alaska. Judging by the
experience of those countries like Lapland
and Finland. where similar conditions ex-
list.
The main argument used by the COM
missioner Of education for this appropria-
ton on the part OF congress Is not chiefly
the one based on the Christian sentiment
OF the people an appeal 10 prevent starva-
ton, although all missionaries and other
authorities report numerous cases OF
death by starvation. The object of the
introduction OF reindeer Is not to afford
temporary relief by furnishing food TO the
natives. but rather the Transformation OF
a people from the savage empioyments OF
hunting and fishing into a higher grade
OF civilization. that OF herdsmen and team
sters. In the condition OF herdsmen and
Transfers these people at once come Into
profitable business relations with the rest
OF the world. They furnish deer skins and
meat for commerce and they furnish the
rapid transportation needed TO make safe
and prosperous the settlements in that
territory.