Evening journal., 1897-09-22
Bonght Deer from Russln.

A few hundred reindeer were pur-
chased from the Russian Government
and transported from Siberia to Alas
ka. They were placed in charge Of
Keepers at Fort Clearance. in the lower
Yukon region. And then the fun be-
gan.
Report after report reached Congress
that the animals were not thriving as
well as might have been expected under
the circumstances. Congress. through
number of committees, favored all
sorts of schemes for the Improvement
of the industry. The matter was
placed under the jurisdiction Of the De-
partment of the Interior, and the Sec
retary thereof was urged to do his ut
most for the encouragement of his SUBJ
ordinates. The keepers themselves de-
SPARED. and soon it began to look as If
the experiment would prove a failure.
stirred Up the Keepers.
Then the Secretary Of the Interior
adopted a drastic measure. He notified
the head keeper of the reindeer ranch
that unless the herds were increased, in
stead of diminished, the ranch would
be abolished and, consequently the
head keeper and his assistants would
lose their comfortable beths. That set
tied It. Head keeper and assistants
turned over a new leaf from that time
forth, and whether the poor showing
of the herds had been due to their care
lessness, or the vigorous action of the
Secretary suddenly increased their
knowledge of the beast, certain it is
that from that time on the reindeer at
Fort Clearance began to show
marked and steady Improvement.
Now there are about 500 of them at
that point and the herds are increas-
ing at the rate of 20 per cent. year.
1t is likely that Congress, in view of
the new gold excitement and the whole
sale invasion Of Alaska that is sure to
| be made in the spring by citizens of
the United States and foreigners from
every cline, will authorize the commit
! tee having charge of the matter to
double or treble the number by large
importations from Siberia.
They'll Fly with the Mails.
One use to which the Government
reindeer are apt to be put at an early
| date is the transportation of mails all
over Alaska, particularly through the
rich Copper River country, which, it is
predicted, will be the centre of mining
interests after this winter 1t would
| be easy to establish a reindeer mail
! service between the mouth of the Cop
per River and Dawson City, for the
animals could easily cross the divide
at Scolai Pass and go by way Of the
confluence of the Yukon and White
rivers to the Klondike region. Trading
stations might be built along the route,
and these could be made very useful as
bases Of supplies for the argonauts. In
deed, it is reported that a bid for the
purchase of half the reindeer on the
Government ranch has been made by
a leading trading and transportation
company of New York, and that the
proposal is now under consideration by
the Interior Department. That this has
not been done before seems incredible,
for those same reindeer are worth in
Alaska ten times as much as the best
of horses, which are practically useless
In that part of the continent.
Our especial" in His Sleigh.
An Alaskan driving a pair of reindeer
before light sleigh would make pic
turesque spectacle. especially with the
fascinating implements of placer
miner strapped on behind The accom-
panying cut has been drawn from a de-
scription of himself furnished by youi
special correspondent at Dyoa, who has
made a similar trip down the broad
valley of the Copper River. 1t shows
him as he says he appeared just aftei
crossing the Scolai Pass.
To DawsOn's Rescue.
A Seattle dispatch received in New
York few days go says the fore
e thought and wisdom of the United
States Government. through its agent
Dr. Sheldon jackson, in introducini
reindeer into Alaska. may be prove'
this coming Winter by the use of tn
deer in taking supplies from -
Michaers to Dawson. When the stear
schooner South Coast left st. Michael
! Agent Crawford, a representative O
DR.. Jackson. was there arranging t
4 send out about Oct. Is the first rein
e deer and sledge party to Circle Cit
D and on to Dawson.
p Provisions of all sorts are abundan
at St. Michaers, and the problem no
I that the close of Yukon navigation
near at hand, is TO get the goods owe
. the 1,SO0 miles of rocks and moss hum
:. Knocks to the hungry crowds at Klor
dixie. This will be done if the plar
v now arranged can be carried out, an
a apparently the obstacles are not il
n surmountable In June last Mr.. Jacl
}. son announced that he was satisfied
[t regular reindeer passenger and ffeigi
n route was perfectly feasible.
Relays at Many stations.
When this Santa Claus sort
i courier system gets into working ord
i It is planned to keep relays of deer
Vt various points along the Yukon. The
will be ready for action just as rela!
of horses used to help along the sta'
coach. The reindeer are very fleet al