The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-24
The REINDEER IN ALASKA.
They Will Solve The Problem Of Supplies
for be Yukon.
EXPRESS LINE CONNECTING STATIONS.
these Animals Which Were Exported With
aview Of Aiding the famishing Eskis
mos Are Now Proving Essential to
the White Man as Well.

WASHINGTON, August 23.-Some inter
csung statements relating TO the gold
region In Alaska and the reindeer expert
ment there arc brought out in the annual
statement Of United states Commissioner
II Education Harris. submitted to-day Tor
ths past fiscal year. 10 describes In dctail
the progress of tnc mining, the CROWN on
Circle city. Dawson and the kIondlke
district. thc two principal routes. wa d.
Ali.nacls and via thiik0th pass.
Touching abe importance of cNtenolns
the introduction OF reindeer into thdl ter
Tt0ry. tho report says the reindeer sla-
u0ua ought Goo bc able 90 furnish 90 rem
deer trained to harness at once Tor the
use OF the miners on the upper YUKON
river
"It was my purpose" the commissioner
ao,s Oh. 30 detail three OF the skilled
herdsmon ana thirty trained rcindecrs to
the Yukon region the present summer
AN IMPORTANT EXPERIMENT..
III this arrangement is carried out as
Instructed. au important experiment VIII
be- boa progrcss during the coming year
al thc gold mines. The plan OF the bureau
vH. tO arrange "a reindeer express con-
rsctine towns n line from Behring
StraIeht 90 Kadiak Island Superintcn-
dent 0f Reindeer stations, KEEL Mann,
last September proved tho pracucability
~ ths by making trial trip on this
route.
Two OF his party were able 10 take the
steamer at katmai. sailing TO Sitka IN
March.
This arrangement once completed, II
Will De possible for business companies In
San Francisco and other cities 90 hold
communications with their whaling fleets
during the winter north OF the Arctic cir
Gle.
ARCTIC SCHOOLS
There has been maintained in Alaska
twenty dag schools. under the suporvis-
ion 0f the Interior Department with TWEEN
ty-throo teachers and an enrolment OF
l.26 pupils.
A pubHs school was opened al Circle
city iu the Yukon mining district. but
the departments agents. writing from
ST. Michacls says ho is afraid he will
he forced 10 discontinue 81 because Of the
exodus Of the citys population into the
region nearer the recently discovered
mines
The influx Of miners into tho Yukon
mas caused "a demand for reindeer for
freirhung purposes. IN the original plan
for tho purchase ana distribution Of
reindeer. reference was had to securing
GA now iood supply lor the lamlshlhE rs
kmo of the Bchring Sea and the Arctic
ocean region bat 10 is now found that
reindeer arc ass essential TO white men
as tho Esk.m0s.
KLONDlKE TRANSFORMATIONS
The wonderful Klondike placcrs are
situated from 100 90 2oO above the greater
stream Provisions brought from the
south and landed ON the banks OF the
TO the mines ON the tributary streams.
last winter mongrcl dogs for transpOrta-
ton purposes cost from 800 10 500 each
and freight charges from the river 10 the
mountains range from 10 to 20 cents per
pound.
The trained reindeer make I'm a day
two or three times the distance covered
ly dog trains and have the advantage
they can use the abundant moss as food