Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-12
KL0NDIKERS' HOPE.
THERE is ROOM FOR NINE MILLION
OF REINDEER
DR.. JACKSON'S SIGNED STATEMENT.
Reindeer VIII Convey in Four or
Five Days What Takes Mt Present
Fifty or Sixty Days to Reach Its
Destination.
written for the Dlspatch)

(Written 1Or the DlspatCn.)
Two recent events have brought the
introduction Of domestic reindeer into
Alaska before the American public with
great prominence. One OF these was the
information that the miners In the
Yukon Valley were without a sufficient
supply of provision to last during the
coming winter. After weighing various
plans the government found that the
only possible solution was to take the
reindeer trained TO harness that were
in the neighborhood Of st. Michael, and
with them freight provisions to the
miners from the abundant supplies stored
at st. Michael, located on the coast OF
Boring Sea, sixty miles above the mouth
Of the Yukon. Hence, orders were issued
by the War Department late In Septem-
Der directing Northumberland Randall,
United States army, in charge OF de-
tachment of troops at St. Michael. TO
take charge Of the reindeer and with
them send food to the starving miners on
the Yukon. These arrangements were
no sooner consummated than tidings
came from the Arctic Coast Of Alaska
that eight whaling vessels, carrying
crews aggregating about four hundred
men, had been Unexpectedly caught in
the ice, and the men were in danger OF
starvation.
Many plans were proposed for relief
expedition, but II was found that no plan
was practicable that was not based upon
the reindeer. Accordingly, the govern
ment, on the 18th OF November, Issued
orders for the revenue cutter Bear to
proceed north until stopped by ice. then
IL 4 To- a.
small party OF officers and men over the
ice to the mainland. Having landed. the
party are to proceed to Cape Prince Of
Wales. secure the services of ". 7.
Lopp, a Congregational missionary, Dor
row his reindeer herd AMI the herd be-
longing to a native Eskimo by the name
of Antisarlook Charley, and with these
two herds proceed overland five or six
hundred miles In December and January
to Point Barrow, or until the sailors are
found.
The importance of the reindeer in the
development OF Alaska cannot be over
estimated. This is true whether looked
upon from the side OF humanity, utility
or commercial value. The native peo-
pies occupying Northern Alaska were
brought TO a condition Of semi-starva-
tion through the persistent destruction
of the whale by the whalers and the
rapid killing off of fur-bearing animals
through the Introduction OF breech-load
ing firearms. The days when they can !
support themselves and families COM
fortably by fishing and hunting are past, |
ard a change in their method Of sub |
sistence has become absolutely necessary. !
This change can be secured by the in |
PRODUCTION Of herds OF domestic reindeer |
and the education of the native popula-
xt1xE.. n
A careful computation. based upon the |
statistics Of Lapland. where similar eli |
ma tic and other conditions exist, show |
Northern and Central Alaska to be capa-
BILE of supporting over 100000 head of |
reindeer.
With the discovery of large and valua-
BILE gold deposits upon the streams and
creeks OF Arctic and sub-Arctic Alaska,
Il is found that the reindeer is as I'M
pCrtant TO white men as TO the Eskimo.
A dog train on long journey will make
on an average from fifteen TO twenty
ave miles a day. and in some sections
cannot make the trip at all, because the
dogs cannot carry with them a sufficient
supply OF food for themselves, and can
procure none in the country through
which they travel To facilitate and
render possible frequent and speedy
between these isolated
settlements and growing centres OF
American civilization. where the ordi-
nary roads of the States have no exist
snce. and cannot be maintained. except
Il an enormous expense, reindeer teams
hat require no beaten roads, and that
1T the close OF days work can be
urned loose TO forage for themselves.
ire essential. Thus the introduction OF
eindeer into Alaska makes possible the
development OF the mines and the sup
,ort Of tho miners.
The Introduction OF domestic reindeer
among the native peoples will probably
DO accomplished through the instrument
ality OF the various missions which have
1een established among them. To ia
,ilitate this the government has entered
Ipon the policy OF lending them small
nerds. with the understanding that after
/ term of years an equal number will
% returned by the missionary societies
o the government. As the mission herds
Increase there will be constant supply
or the establishment OF new herds owned
" the natives. who have taken care OF
he mission herd. learned the business.
md received reindeer in compensation OF
heir services. Fer the use OF the miners
ONE plan will be arranged by which ]
PARTIES desiring to establish transporta-