The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-24
! REINDEER EXPRESS TO THE
kLONDIKE COUNTRY MAY BE
ESTABLISHED.
AN INTERESTING REPORT.
PROGRESS OF MINING AND THE
GROWTH OF DAWSON CITY
DESCRIBED.
INVESTIGATION OF RESOURCES.
Early Next Spring a Party VIII Re
Sent Out by the Geological
Survey.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-Some in
teresting statements relating to the
gold region in Alaska and the reindeer
experiment there are brought out
in the annual statement of United
states Commissioner of Education
harris submitted today, as it describes
IN detail the progress of the mining,
the growth Of Circle City, Dawson and
the hlondfke district, and the two prin-
clpal routes, via st. MichaePs and via
ChllKoot pass. Touching on the impor-
lance OF extending the introduction of
reindeer into that territory, the report
says the reindeer stations ought to be
dole 10 furnish 500 reindeer trained TO
the harness, at once for the use of
the miners on the Upper Yukon river.
IL was my purpose" the commits
s!oner goes on, "to detail three Of the
Skilled herdSmen and best trained
reindeer to the Yukon region the pres
eht summer If this arrangement is
carried out, an important experiment
VIII De in progress during the coming
year at the gold mines. The plan of
the bureau has been to arrange a rein
ueer express connecting towns in a, line
from Berlng strait to Kadiak island.
superintendent of Reindeer Stations
hJeA1nann1 last September proved the
Pracucabllity Of this by making trial
Trip on this route. Two of his party
were able to take the steamer Kat
mai, sailing to Sitka in March. This
arrangement once completed, it will be
possible for business companies in San
FRANCISCO and other cities to hold COM
Hlunlcation with their whaling fleets
curing the winter, north of the Arctic
circle
mere have been maintained in
Alaska twenty day schools under the
supervision Of the interior department.
with twenty-three teachers and an en-
rollment of 1857 pupils. A public
school was opened at Circle City in
the Yukon mining district, but the de-
partments agent, writing from st.
Mlchaels, says he is afraid he will be
forced to discontinue it because of the
exodus of the city's pouIation into the
region near the recently discovered
mines"
Ihe influx of miners into the Yukon
mas caused a demand for reindeer for
Ifelghtlng purposes. In the original
plan for the purchase and distribution
Oh reindeer reference was had to Sc
curing a new food supply for the fam
iAilitO VI LIE sea and
the Artlc ocean, but it is now found
that reindeer are as essential to white
men as the Eskimos The wonderful
ukon placer mines are situated twen-
ty-f1ve to 100 miles from the greater
stream. Provisions brought from the
south and landed on the banks of the
river are with great difficulty trans
ported to the mines on the tributary
streams Last winter mongrel dogs for
transportation purposes cost from 500
to $500 each, and freight charges from
the river to the mountains range from
fifteen to twenty cents per pound. The
trained reindeer make in a dav two
OF three times the distance covered
by dog teams, and have the advantage
that they can use the abundant moss
as food
Early next spring, a party will be
sent out from the geological survey to
make another investigation of gold re-
sources in Alaska. An appropriation
OF $4,000 was asked for from congress
last year, but the amount was cut
down to $4,000. This was not avail
able to send party last season. but
IT VIII be used in dispatching probably
three survey experts, headed by Prof
Shurr, already recognized expert. and
an effort will be made to have congress
raise the appropriation to about the
same asked for last year. If this should
be granted. more than one party will
go They will probably stay until the
latter part of August, though plans
nave not been determined The mis-
sion is to compile authentic data. or
Whlch another more complete report
will be made.