The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-20
REINDEER USEFUL IN ALASKA.
What is Done to Keep the Natives Supplied
With Them.
From the Seattle, Wash Post.Inteili-
gencer.)

I from the Seattle, Wash Post-lnteili-
gencer.)
The Rev. Sheldon Jackson, Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction in A laska,
is in the city awaiting the departure of
the next steamer for the north. He first
went to Alaska in 1877 as Superintendent
of the Presbyterian missions, and was in
that office when he received his prese Mt
appointment from the government in
1885. Since 1891 Mr.. jackson has bee u
engaged in what seems to be q novel
mission for Superintendent of Schools.
He is introducing Siberian reindeer into
Alaska. When he goes north he will
meet the revenue cutter Bear at Alaska,
and in that vessel will visit tho coast Of
Siberia, travelling along from point
about $50 miles south of Behring Straits
to point $50 miles north, according to
the condition of the ice and surf. With
In the small harbors in this stretch of
coast line TIE cutter will drop anchor,
and Mr.. Jackson will go prospecting
for reindeer. By inquiries among the
natives he finds out where there are rein
deer to be purchased and then negotiates
the sale. He generally selects females
between the ages of one and three years,
and pays on the Siberian side about So
head.
81 do not know whether the cutter
will transport the lot this year or not.
he said. "They may be pressed for Time
and il so, I shall charter a whaler or
trading vessel. will have between $50
and 200. We have now about 500 rein
deer in Alaska The herd was increased
by the birth of 2s6 last year,
"But what has this to do with the pub
lilo schools and education in generalT
was asked.
"Why. everything responded the Su-
perintendent with smile. I'm Alaska
we do not make such point of mere
mental training rs we do Of giving the
native means whereby he can make
more money to support higher mode of
living. Our pupils are really appren
tices, to whom wa teach trade. AS the
scholar Of the Indian schools in the
States is taught the care of horses and
cattle, we teach the care and use OF the
reindeer. 1t would be empty cruelty to
give the native an education that would
make the Surroundings of civilization
necessary to him, without giving him
the means by which to support the sur
roundings. When the native is civilized
it means that more money must be ex-
pended in his support. In their wild or
unciviIized state they can live on very
little. do not imagine the store bill of
an Indian for a year would amount to
more than $40 to $12. OF course a great
deal of their food is obtained by hunting
and fishing. We have to teach them in
dustries, and the breeding OF reindeer is
one of the great avenues of wealth in
the Arctic.
"The school is at Point Clarence, the
first harbor OH the American side of
Behring Straits and we have eighteen
pupils. Each one is given two reindeer
a year to keep, and after each has served
five years he has ten head, or, if there
have been any births, he may have fifteen
or eighteen. We have seven Lapmen
from Lapland who are skilled herders, to
teach the eighteen young Eskimos. They
also act as herders. Tine herd Is not
placed in an inolosure, but is allowed to
roam at will on the broad prairie. attend
ed by Lapland and his dog. These dogs
are from Lapland, and are Of q peculiar
breed, resembling collie. They are
shaggy, and some have absolutely no
tails. This does not worry them, how
ever, as there are no flies in that coun-
try. No provisions are necessary for
the reindeer. When turned out they find
plenty of sustenance in the moss and
short grasses of the plains. When a
small number Of our apprentices have
been in the school sufficient length of
time to have come into possession of
good-sized herds we tell them to club to-
Rether, take themselves of, and live by
themselves.
"Such q band of natives can make
their living off the animals. The rein
deer furnishes milk, cheese and flesh as
food. and from its skin can be made
clothing and shoes. Money is made from
them by charges for. the transportation
Of goods, and the owners are put to no
hafu