The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-06
DIR, SHELDON JACKSON.

colonists in Alaska is the most important
event of the past year in connection with
that country. They are recognized as the
most intelligent, expert and experienced
reindeer drivers in the world The mines
of Alaska cannot be fully developed with
out reindeer transportation, and 1t is to
these hardy Lapps that all employing rein
deer will be compelled at least for some
years to apply for their drivers Coming
to Alaska, they will as speedily rs possible
work into the business of owning and
raising reindeer herds for themselves and
give promise of permanency to the new in
dustry of raising reindeer, which Is being
placed in the country.
"While the secretary was looking to the
relief of the restitution he has builded
wiser than no knew The restitution be-
ing relieved, he has been instrumental in
securing and placing in Alaska this valu-
able colony of Lapps. Then another i'm
portant point gained by the success of the
expedition has been to show to transpor-
lltion companies and private parties who
,nay desire TO secure trained reindeer for
tne fur, .erance of their business that it is
possible &c successfully procure and bring
to this CO, airy reindeer and drivers from
Lapland. 1t Is true that two or three pri-
yate expeditions have lost heavy percent
age of their deer in crossing the Atlantic,
but am informed by steamship men that
they did not take precautions In securing
suitable food for the deer while en- route
My experience for the past six years in
bringing reindeer from Siberia to Alaska
| and this more difficult because longer ex-
pertinent of bringing them from Europe
| have demonstrated to my own satisfaction
-.fxl.
ment TIC Reindeer Is transported as easily
as any other animal.
In conversation with a reporter DR..
Jackson gave some interesting particulars
about the difficulties he experienced in
procuring the animals. He said he had
seven men searching through northern
| Lapland from the coast to the boundary
line Of Russian Finland for long time
| looking for suitable animals
! "If could have bought whole herd at
one transaction" he said, lit would have
been but little trouble. But requiring
picked deer, trained to harness, necessitat-
| ed buying in small lots of three and four
| In herd and covering large area OF ter
ritory. This required on the part OF the
| several men travel amounting In the ag-
| oreQate to 5000 miles. This 5000 miles
| of reindeer Shedding was made in region
| from three TO four degrees OF latitude
| north of the arctic circle and during the
arctic night, when the sun does not appear
above tho horizon from Nov. IS to Jan. 20
1000 miles of Shedding through long
| reaches of unsettled forests, oyer storm
swept mountains and along the edge OF
dizzy precipices in the darkness OF night.
The work was also done In the middle OF
the arctic winter, when fearful storms
rage almost constantly.
1.-THE reindeer thus purchased were as
semblod in four different sections OF the
country. about 100 miles from the sea.
With them were the Lapp drivers and their
families, making four bands of people,
aporepatinQ 113 In number, and four
bands of reindeer, aggregating oSs. IN
addition to these were number OF Lapps
and their private deer, who were coming
TO the coast to see their friends OH. Inc
goth and 9th of January were set for
their starting for the coast. For three
weeks q storm had been raging WITHOUT
,easing All signs of roads were opiiter'
atod by the driving snow. That storm on
the day for starting had turned INTO reg
Mar blizzard. IL seemed impossible that
snv human being could cross the noun
tains and face the storm. Upon one Of
those DAYS the mayor of the village calling
mon NO. l inquired the probability Oh
their being able to travel, when he In
formed me that no one could face that
storm and live. And yet these four bands
of over 100 people, men, women ana chii-
dren. some of them babes less than a year
old, did face that storm and did cross tho
mountains In open slcds, 100 miles TO the
coast
"a portion Of tho way across the ocean
wa had Very rough trip, encountering
severe gallo that lasted nine days. Inc
CAPTAIN OF the ship, who has followed the
seas for AZ years. and tho first officer, -