Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-02-17
FOR KLONDIKE MINERS.
fHE TASK OF TAKING 500 REINDEER TO
ALASKA.

ALASkA.
A Special Agents Mission In Norway.--Iiow
the Animals Will Be Disposed OF When
They Arrive-..Frelshtins With Reindeer.
DIR. Sheldon Jackson is now In Nor
way as the special agent of the War
Department with power to purchase
500 reindeer, which the government
will use in forwarding supplies to the
destitute miners In the Klondike. Mr..
VIM. j. Kjellman, superintendent OF
the government reindeer herd In Alas
ka, preceded Jackson to Norway and
selected the animals and keepers for
the proposed expedition. Lieut.. Devore
of the army, military secretary to Sec
as far as London and has arranged for
the transportation of the herd of rein
deer to New York, for which purpose
he has chartered steamer.
The arrangements for the transpor-
tation Of the reindeer, the harness,
sleds and drivers, will be most difficult
and expensive, says the Washington
Star A large supply of Arctic moss
must be carried for fodder for the jour
ney across the ocean, as well as for
that overland to Seattle and again by
water to Dyea. A days journey in
land from Dyea a moss grows on which
the caribou of that region subsist, and
1t is conceded that reindeer can live
on any food that Is good enough for
caribou. The long trip is sure to af-
feet the reindeer, but it is hoped tina:
1t can be made in a short enough time
to allow short stop for recuperation
before the starting of the expedition
from Dyea.
The reindeer may be Kept by the
War Department in anticipation of a
repetition of this years distress next
winter, or they may be sold at auction
in the spring. There is horrid posi-
bility, however. that they may have
to be slaughtered for food in the Klon-
dixie and the orders authorize such a
thing If the situation justifies it. In
case they return safely from their mis-
sion Of humanity, the chances are that
they will be added to the herds al
ready established by the government
in Alaska. The herd which is thus to
be imported will cost about $4,000,
exclusive of the cost or transportation
and sustenance.
The proposed use of reindeer for the
lief of the Klondike miners has arous {.
ed fresh interest in regard to those an
imals. In Lapland, which includes the
northern parts of Sweden, Norway.
Finland and the Kola peninsula, there
are about 100000 domestic reindeer.
They are in herds of all sizes, owned
by various individuals, the business Of
reindeer herding and raising being one
of the chief industries of the country.
Thousands are used annually for food,
and good deal of the meat is sold in
Europe as venison. In Lapland they
sell at from 81 to SO each when brok
en- to work. Their training begins
when they are from three to four years
old, and they are usually able to work
up to the age of from sixteen to eight
cen years.
Freighting with reindeer is an en-
tirely separate industry from raising
the animals, and is one in which many
Laplanders are engaged. Almost all
the traffic between the inland settle
ments and the coast is done by rein
deer sleds in winter and reindeer
packs in summer. The hoofs of rein
deer are large and fiat and spread out
as the foot is planted, so that the ami
mails are equally useful for travelling
on snow or in mud. The sleds are
built of light, thin WOOD, in much the
form of the forward hair of a canoe,
only decked over for about two-thirds
Of their total length of about seven
feet. From 300 to 400 pounds of
freight make a sled load, and ten sleds
make team, nine loaded and one for
the driver. Each sled is drawn by a
reindeer, whose harness consists of a
rawhide thong about the neck, with
single trace running between the fore
legs and to one side of the hind legs,
so that the animal pulls bit side
ways and does not step into his own
tracks twice, as it would If it pulled
straight ahead. The driver, who rides
in the first sled, drives with reins tied
to his steed's horns The other ami
mails are te,hered each to the rear of
the sled ahead of it. DR.. Jackson will
not only buy 800 reindeer, but also
their harness and sleds, and will hire
the services of 80 drivers who will be
accompanied by their families.