The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-19
Pilgrims in Alaska Will Find 1t
Best to Take Reindeer Route.
NATIVESWHO KNOW SAYS0
Government Help to the Yukon Suffer-
ers Goes by Reindeer Train and
Old-Time Alaskans Say
There's No Better Way.
~. wo recent events have brought

i American public with great
prominence. One of these was the
information that the miners in the
Yukon valley were without a sufficient
supply of provisions 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 min
ers from the abundant supplies stored
at ST. Michael. located on the coast of
Boring sea, so miles above the mouth
OF the Yukon. Hence orders We're is
sued by the war department late in
September directing Lieutenant Colonel
Randall, U. S. A.. 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
We're no sooner consummated than It'd
ings came from the Arctic coast of
Alaska that eight whaling vessels, car
rying crews aggregating about 400 men,
had been unexpectedly caught in the
ice and the men were In danger of
starvation.
Many plans We're proposed for a re-
lief expedition, but it was found that
10 pan Was pEdGIlcdDte that WAS IUl
based upon the reindeer. Accordingly
the government, on the 10th of Novem
Der issued orders for the revenue cut
ter Bear to proceed north until stop
ped by ice, then make determined
effort to send a small party of officers
and men over the ice to the main
land. Having landed, the party are to
proceed to Cape Prince of Wales Sc
cure the services of w. T. Lopp, Con-
gregational missionary. borrow his rein
deer herd and the herd belonging to
native Eskimo by the name of Antisar-
look (Charley) and with these two herds
proceed overland 500 or 600 miles in De-
cember 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-staf-
walton through the persistent destruc-
tion of the whale by the whaiers and
the rapid killing off of fur bearing ami
mails through the introduction Of
breech- loading firearms The days when
they can support themselves and fam
lilies comfortably by fishing and hunt
ing are past and change in their
method of subsistence has become alb
solutely necessary. This change can
be secured by the introduction of herds
of domestic reindeer and the education
Of the native population in their care
and management
A careful computation, based upon
the statistics of Lapland, where SINH
lar climatic and other conditions exist,
show northern and central Alaska to
be capable of supporting over 100000
head of reindeer.
With the discovery of large and vail
liable gold deposits upon the streams
ss,ah Af4nT ia,
Alaska it is found that the reindeer is
as important to white men as to the
Eskimo. A dog train on a long journey
will make an average of from is to %
miles day, and in some sections can
not make the trip at all. because the
dogs cannot carry with them a sufti-
cient supply of food for themselves, and
can procure none in the country through
which they travel. To facilitate and
render possible frequent and speedy
communication between these isolated
settlements and growing centers of
American civilization. where the ordin-
airy roads of the states have no exist
ence and cannot be maintained except
at an enormous expense, reindeer teams
that require no beaten road. and that
at the close of a days work can be
turned loose to forage for themselves,
are essential. Thus the introduction of
reindeer into Alaska makes possible the
development of the mines and the sup
port of the miners.
The Introduction of domestic reindeer
among the native peoples will probably
be accomplished through the instru-
mentality of the various missions which
have been established among them. To
facilitate this the government has en-
tered upon the policy of lending them
small herds with the understanding that
after term of years an equal number
will be returned by the missionary So
cfeties to the government. As the mis-
sion herds increase there will be con-
slant supply for the establishment of
new herds owned by the natives who
have taken care of the mission, herd,
learned the business and received REIN
deer in compensation of their services.
For the use of the miners some plan
will be arranged by which parties de-
string to establish transportation routes
can procure trained deer for the pur-
pose.
The first thought of the miner in
central Alaska is to secure a good
claim, and his next thought is the
question of food supply-whether he can
secure enough provisions from the
warehouses where they are brought by
boats and in other ways. to enable hirn
to work his mine continuously. With
the exception of fish and limited
quantity of wild game, and a limited
quantity of garden vegetables, there is
no food in the country; all bread stuffs
and the larger portion OF the meat sup
ply and fruits must be brought into il
from the outside
Now it should be remembered that
there are no roads in Alaska, as they
exist in other sections of the United
States. and that with the almost illim-
liable area of bog and swamp and tun-
dra and frozen subsoil it will be inn
possible TO make and maintain roads
except at cost that is practically pro-
hibitive. In summer the supplies loaded
into small boats are poled UP the creeks
or packed on mems shoulders. In win
ter they are hauled on dog sleds This
costs heavily. In addition To the ex-
pense. the carrying capacity is linz
ited-a load is from 100 to 125 pounds
per sled per dog. portion of which
Is food for the dogs. and If the route is
8 long one without intervening stores
of supply. dog team can scarcely
carry more than food sufficient for