New-York tribune., 1897-08-24
REINDEER FOR ALASKA MINERS.
IT is PROPOSED TO ESTABLISH AN EXPRESS
LINE TO TIE UPPER YUKON.

Washington Aug 23.-Consderable interest. de-
rived from the statements relating to the gold re-
gion In Alaska and the reindeer experiments there.
Is aroused by the annual statement or the thited
States Commissioner Of Education, Mr. Harris sub
mitted to-day. II describes In detail the progress
Of the mining. the growth OF Circle City, Dawson
and the Kondike district. the two principal routes.
via st. Michaels and VIA Chkoot Pass.
Touching the Importance of extending tho In
PRODUCTION Of the reindeer into that territory the
report says the reindeer stations ought 10 be able
to furnish 500 reindeer trained to the harness at
once for the use OF the miners the upper Yukon
River. 1T WAS my purpose" the Commissioner
goes on Ito detail three OF the skilled herdsmen
and thirty trained reindeer TO the Yukon region
the present summer
IL this arrangement Is carried out. as instructed
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 towns IN line from Behring Strait to
Kadiak Island Tho superintendent OF reindeer
stations last September proved the practicability
OF this by making n trial trip on this route. Two
OF his party able TO take the steamer at Kat
mai sailing TO Stka in March. This arrangement
once completed. II Will be possible for business
companies In San Francisco and other cities 10
hold communication with their whaling heets IN
the winter north of the Arctic circle. There have
been maintained in Alaska twenty day schools un-
der the supervision OF the Interior Department,
with twenty-three teachers and an enrolment OF
261 pupils. A public school was opened az circle
City In the Yukon mining district, but the Depart
ment agent, writing from st. Michaels. says ne Is
afraid he will be forced TO discontinue II because
of the exodus of the citys population into the re-
gion nearer the recently discovered mines
The influx Of miners from the Yukon has caused
a demand for reindeer for freighting purposes. In
the original plan for the purchase ana dlstrlDu-
ton of reindeer, reference was had TO securing
new food supply for the famshing Esqulmaus OF the
Behring and the Arctic Ocean region, nut II Is
NOW nov" found @ . rsndeer he are sonsi@ Yako @
mines are twenty-five TO one hundred miles from
the greater stream. Provisions brought from the
south and landed the banks of the river are
with great difficulty transported 10 the mines on
the tributary streams. -
Last winter mongrel dogs for transportation pur-
charges from the river 10 the mountains range
from Is to 20 cents pound. The trained reindeer
make in a day or two three times the distance
covered by dog teams. and have the advantage that
they can the abundant moss as food
Early next spring "A party Will he sent out from
the Geological Survey make another inNestlga-
ton OF gold resources In Alaska An Appropriation
but the amount was cut down 10 $500 This was
not available in time to send a party last season
but II will be used in sending probably three survey
experts headed by Professor Spur. ALREADY a
recognized authority on Alaska and an EFFORT Will
he made TO have Congress raise the appropriation
10 about the amount as was asked LOT IaSt
year 49,. - or,,.
will 20 They Will probably stay until the latter
part of August. though plans have not Deen deter-
mined. The mission Is to compile authehlc qd,a -,
on which another more complete report, VIII ne
based and to make accurate survey ana geolos-
ical map Of the region