Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-08-27
REINDEER TO KL0NDIKE
ARE FLEETER THAN DOGS AND
CAN FEED ON MOSS.
Alaskan Facts Ascertained by Unit
ed States Government Of
AciAlA.

Washington, Aug. 25.-Some interest
ing statements relating to the gold re-
gion in Alaska and the reindeer expert
ment there are brought out in the an
nual report of United States Commits
sioner of Education Harris, submitted to-
day.
1t describes in detail the progress of
mining, growth of Circle City, Dawson
CITY and the Klondike district, and the
two principal routes, via st. Michaels and
via Chlcott pass.
Touching on the Importance of ex-
tending the introduction OF reindeer in
to that territory the report says that rein
deer stations ought to be able to furnish
for use of the miners on the upper Yu-
kon river.
at was my purpose" the commissioner
goes on, "to detail three. of the skilled
herdsmen and 80 trained reindeer to the
Yukon region the present summer
| If this arrangement is carried out, as
instructed, an important experiment will
be in progress during the coming year
at the gold mines. The plan of the
bureau has been to arrange reindeer
express connecting the towns in line
from the Boring straits to kodiac
island.
The superintendent of reindeer sta
tions, Kjollmanni, last September prov
ed the practicability Of this by making
a trial trip on this route. Two of his
party were able to take the steamer at
katmai, sailing to Sitka in March.
This arrangement once completed, it
will be possible for business companies
in San Francisco and other cities to
hold communication with their whaling
fleets during the winter north of the Are
tic circle
There have been maintained in Alaska
20 day schools, under the supervision of
the interior department, with % teachers
and an enrolment of 1867 pupils. A pub
lie school was opened at Circle City, in
the Yukon mining district, but the de-
partment's agent, writing from st. Mich
aels, says he is afraid he will be forced
to discontinue it because of the exodus
of the citys population into the region
nearer the recently discovered mines.
The influx of miners into the Yuk On
has caused a demand for reindeer fol-
freighting purposes. In the original
plan for the purchase and distribution
of reindeer, reference was had to Sc
curing new food supply for the fam
ishing Esquimaux of the Boring sea and
Arctic ocean region, but it is now found
the reindeer are as essential to white mer
as the Esquimaux. The wonderful Yu
kon placer mines are situated 25 to 100
miles from the greater stream. Provision.
brought from the south and landed or
the banks of the river are with great diff
ficulty transported to the mines on the
tributary streams.
Last winter mongrel dogs for trans
portation purposes cost from 800 to $2Ot
cash, and freight charges from the rive1
to the mountain range from Is to 20 cents
per pound. The trained reindeer MAKE
in day two or three times the distanc,
covered by the dog teams, and have thu
; advantage that they can use the abund
ant moss as food.
SkaKaway and Dyea.
Seattle, WASH, Aug. 24.-With the ar
, rival of the steamer Resale from Skaga
way and Dyea comes the news that tn
. town organization at Skagaway, unde
the leadership of A. j. Mckinney, ha
taken definite action to open tn
trail
On the arrival of the collier William
cite, none of the passengers were al
lowed to take their baggage until tn
entire cargo had been placed high and dr.,
, on the beach. then the individual hold
| ings were segregated. 1t was seen a
once that to get over the trail was i'm
possible.
) A miners meeting was convened an,
it was decided to declare the trail closed
The miners put their action into imme
, date effect by tearing out several cross
pieces OF the bridge across the Skagawa,
river. Then about 700 citizens went t.
work on the trail and the following da,
their number was increased to 1000. The
y had about so pounds of giant powder an
e small quantity of dynamite and ex
pected in four days after the sailing Z
' the Rosalie to open the trail in q great
! improved condition.
r The dangerous places, where man
Y horses have been lost, will be fixed u
| with scantling, and the marshy po,
tons will be corduroyed. Concerted az
ton on the part Of the workers will RI
$ suit in many prospectors getting throug
e who otherwise would have been block
t AIDED all winter. Lumber is in great d.
: mand, and impatient gold hunters ar
rushing work on improvised boats all
RATS. The present rush is confidentl
|. anticipated will land at least 10000 PEE
pie at Skagaway. There are now abou
1000 people there.
Juneau is rapidly filling up with mir
S ers from Dyea and Skagaway, who Pre-
8 pose to winter there.