The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-06-05

introduced to Give Eskimos Food
and Transportation.
Absolutely Essential to Connect
Isolated Settlements

reindeer into Alaska. which the
Bureau Of Education has been con-
Quoting under the direction Of Dr.
Sheldon Jackson, has proved a de-
oidod success and the Secretary Of the
Interior has asked Congress to appro-
pirate enough money to extend the
enterprise upon a basis that will make
it Of immediate value to the Eskimos
and white miners who have been at
tracted TO that Territory by the gold
deposits. Beginning with 1891 the
Bureau Of Education has been given
an annual appropriation of 81, 500
with which to purchase reindeer in
Siberia and hire the necessary herders
10 care for the animals and instruct
the natives. That year sixteen deer
were purchased; in 1892, III; in
1898 the number was increased 127 by
purchase, 81 fawns we're born and
eight died; in 1894 100 we're pur-
chased, 1s6 fawns we're born and 40
died last year 1870 deer were brought
from Siberia, 29S lawns we're born
and % died 1t will thus be seen that
during the five years 564 reindeer
were purchased and delivered in
Alaska and that the natural increase
by fawns was 571, of which only II
died.
The slaughter of the seals and wal
rus during recent years has practically
exterminated those animals so far Us
the Eskimos are concerned, who have
been reduced to a condition of starva-
ton, which suggested to DR.. jackson
the introduction Of the reindeer for
food as we'll rs for transportation. The
idea, while considered feasible from
the beginning, has been given q thor
ough test, which has demonstrated its
practicability beyond question. But
at the rate of progress which has been
possible with the meagre appropria-
ton available it would take at least
fifty years to stock Alaska. The dis
covery of rich gold veins has attracted
more than 1900 white miners to the
central part of the territory, where the
thermometer hoyers in the neighbor-
hood of seyenty-fve degrees below
zero during the winter months, and
all food must be imported. Most OF
the deer acquired for the expert
ment were purchased in Siberia aud
brought to Alaska in government
vessels free of transportation charges.
AS the latter item is the greatest ex-
pense the small appropriation was
sufficient to establish the necessary
stations and give a thorough trial.
There are in northern, central and
western Alaska at least 400, 900 square
miles of territory not adapted to
agriculture or cattle raising and with
out an adequate food supply for the
native Eskimo or the white population
now going into the gold districts
Over this vast region there is a growth
of long white moss, the natural food
of the reindeer. Basing the estimate
upon statistics obtained in Lapland,
where IA, 900 square miles feed 322,
sos head of reindeer, or % to the
square mile, Alaska, where similar
conditions prevail, should sustain at
least g, 200, 900 deer, worth at the rate
prevailing in Sweden $50 per head,
$82, 500, 600.
The original purpose of introducing
domestic reindeer into Alaska wa
to provide new and permanent foot
supply for the half lamished Eskimo
Previous to the discovery of gol,
there was nothing iu the country t.
attract whites, except fur hunting, blu
now villages are springing mp in al
directions, and with groceries bread
stuffs aud other provisions scarce, an,
imported at great expense, it is con
sidered absolutely essential to its fu
ture prosperity that the reindeer
which can exist on the moss, shout
be introduced in sufficient quantity t
supply the food and clothing neces
sary for the rapidly increasing popr
lation. There are no roads in A
aska, and prevailing conditions wi
prevent any being made for years
come. Travelling is now confined 81