The sun., 1897-12-25
OFF TO BUY LAP REINDEER.
THEY WILL BE USED TO sEND
BELIEF 10 ALASKAN MINERS.
mr.. jackson Sails for Europe To-Day 70 secure
500 Reindeer and SO Lap Drivers-Theso
yyu, PORN the Government Expedition
rh,t IL to Cnrry Supplies 20 the Yukon.

mr. jackson sails for Europe To-day 10 Secure
500 Reindeer aud SO Lap Drivern-Theso
VIII Form tho GoVernmeut Expedition
That IL to CnrrJ Supplies 20 the Yukon.
Tho Rev. Sheldon jackson, d. d.. will sail
on the Lucania this morning as special agent
NJ tho War Department with power TO purchase
roo reindeer, which the Government will use
in forwarding supplies to tho minors In the
Yukon Valley. William A. Kjcllmann, super
intcndent OF tho Government reindeer herd in
Alaska since $780, left Washington for Sweden
late in November on the same crrand, ana 1t Is
hoped that he will have selected the animals
by the time DIR. jackson reaches Christiania
II he has not done so DR.. Jackson must proceed
north by railroad from Christiania to Irond
hjem and thence by boat along tho coast Of
Norway, as far, probably. as Hammertest' tho
northernmost town In Europe.
There are in Lapland, which includes the
northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland
and tho Kola Peninsula, 900 domestic rein.
deer. They are in herds OF all sizes, owned by
various individuals. tho business of reindeer
herding and raising being one of the chief In
dustries Of the country. Thousands are killed
annually for food. and good deal of the meat
is sold in Europe as venison. The domestic
reindeer is somewhat smaller than the wild
one, although this fact Is probably due to care
loss breeding; for tho Government herd in
Alaska has been considerably improved In
breed during the fivo years 1t has been under
the care OF the Department ot tho Interior.
Reindeer in Lapland sell at from 81 to $15 each
when broken to work. Their training begins
whom they are from three to four years old,
and they are usually able to work up to the
age of from sixteen to eighteen years.
Freightng with reindeer is an entirely sep
i,;, t1, nntp p,n1a md
is one in which many Laplandcrs are engaged.
Elements and the coast is done by reindeer slcds
in winter and reindeer packs in summer. The
out as the foot is planted, so that the animals
are equally useful for travelling on snow or N
mud. The sleds are built of light thin wood,
in much the form of the forward half OF a canoe.
only dcckcd over for two.thirds OF their total
length of about seven feet. From 800 TO 400
s:cds make a team, nine loaded, and one for
the driver. Each sled is drawn by a reindeer
whose harness consists OF rawhide thong
about tho neck with a single trace running be.
tween the forelegs and TO one side of tho hind
legs so that the animal pulls a bit sideways,
and os dS1s Fl Il pped 's pSRh ahead Ss
driver, who rides in the first sled, drives with
reins tied to his steeds horns, the other AMI,
mails are tethered. each to the rear OF inc s'eo
DR.. Jackson will not only buy 500 reindeer.
but also their and seds o AND 5 T be hFe
companied by their families. Considering their
condition in life. and their nomadic habits, the
Lap reindeer drivers are remarkably do
mestic and intelligent class. They insist on
taking their families with them when they
make n permanent move: and where any num-
Der migrate together, the minister Of tho com.
munity always goes along too. They can
nearly all read and write. and are good Luther.
ans.
The arrangements for the transportation OF
the reindeer, the harness and sleds. and drivers
will be most difficult and expensive. Lieut.. ID.
B. Devorc. military secretary of the Secretary
of War. will act as disbursng agent. and is au.
necessary. A largo supply of Arctic moss must
be carried for fodder on the TRIP across the ocean
as well as for that overland to Seattle and
again by water to Dyea. a days journey in
land from Dyea moss grows ON which the
caribou OF that region subsist, and it is an nc.
ceptcd fact that reindeer can live on any food
which caribou eat The long trip Is sure to
be made in a short enough time to allow O
little stop for recuperation before the reindeer
start hauling supplies in from Dyea. The fam
lilies of the drivers will stop at Dyea until one
or two round trips have been made, after
which they will probably settle at the othel
end of the route.
Three years ago colony. of seven families Of
Lapps was settled at st. Michael, and although
three of these have returned home, the resi-
like the country. and it is hoped that those nc
companying the imported herd Of reindeer VII
also stay. The reindeer may be Kept by thu
War Department in anticipation OF the repeti
tion of this years distress next year, or they
may be sold at auction in tho spring, or turned
over to the Department OF the Interior and bt
joined with the herds already in Alaska.
The cost of the herd which DIR. jackson 10 tt
bring over will probably be about $50, 1000.