The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-18

The steamer Del Nor,e was chartered
yesterday by the United States govern
nent TO transport reindeer from Siberia
to Alaska
The steamer vas secured by the govern
ment through DIR. Sheldon jackson. super-
Alaska. The Del Nor.e. II is expected.
Will leave Seattle today for st. Michael,
and VIII carry al the government sup
plies The freight contrac, was originally
granted 10 the owners OF the schooner
Louise ]. kenney. but was afterward
transferred owing 20 the fact that the
kenney would not be able TO fulfill it. The
Del Norte will carry regular passengers
TO st. Michael, but will afterward lard
tne government supplies at Unaiaklik.
Calvin bay, 81. Lawrence island, St. Law
renee bay. Port Clarence. and will then
go to Perkins and Siberia for the reindeer.
AS many reindeer as possible will he pur-
chased by Dr. Jackson. who will be
passenger on the Del Norie to Siberia
Or. jackson viii take passage on the
steamer Charles Nelson from Seattle to
81 Michael, where he Will go aboard the
Del Norte. The Louise j. Kenney will
carry the eighty Lap.anders from Port
townsend 10 the various missions In
Alaska. and some OF them may go 10 ST.
IBERIA To lend their assistance in taking
the reindeer TO Alaska
Or jackson has received recent infor-
nation about the reindeer In Alaska
which confirms him in the view which ne
expressed few days ago through the
Pos'-lnteiligercer that the reindeer plan
is not failure. To Observation-Disclosures
reporter yesterday ne said
Il do not consider Il a failure NV fore
man writes me from the Dalton trail
under date of May 90 that 20 reindeer
were alive and doing well on the abund-
eht moss pasturage In that region
We We're told thar there was no moss
'hsre. ana that was the reason they died I"
res l nave read that ard many similar
s.a.snien1s out thsy are incorrect. Before
soihs 10 Lapiand last winter / instituted
inquiries, ana learned that the great mos
nsidS of the interior Of Alaska com,
nel,cTd on the Dalton tsai.. from fifty to
sixty miles Eorth of Haines. near Dyef,-
This spring, when the deer reached that
place. they found abundance of their ma
i've food, Just as / had been represent ed
70 ns. J am accustomed TO misrepresenta-
ton IN TINS matter. When in 1890 and 1891
commenced advocating the introduction
OF domestic reindeer into Alaska, | was
met Win the positive assertions Of men,
were a sufeIststious people ard on that
account would not sell deer alive and
that even IL they should be led 10 sell
their deer the animals wouad rot stand
fuiej bs actually buying live reindeer. and
transporting them safely from Siberia 10
Alaska In 1891 Then. | WAS Informed that
the natives and. native dogs in Alaska
would kill them. THIS objection, likewise
has been exploded by experience ! have
had from five TO fifteen hundred head in
Alaska for six years, with no special trou-
BILE from the natives or their dogs Moro
than that. twenty of the natives have
learned the management Of reindeer and
several Of tiseIn have small herds Of their
own. The domestic reindeer In Alaska
are thriving better than they did ether
in l.aplar1d or Siberia for the reason that
Alaska has more abundant pasturage''
You do not. then. consider the reindeer
expedition fasiure?"
by no means. Five hundred and thi--
ty-esght head were brought from Iaplan.i
10 SEATTLE. "A distance of over seven thou
s.ir3 miles, Wfth ihe loss OF but one deer.
trans ssSrtattCn. and. while three hundred
and twelve died at SCatf.e and Hasras Vet
the less was not due 20 the difficulties OF
trans, soIfatfc.l, but 10 a combination OF cir
cumstata>ss and government red tape all
OF which cosid sasly have been prevent
cd The two hundred and twenty six deer
that wsgHs allowed TO reach the mss. dis
tayt ntty miles from the coast, are do!rg
we'll. and Will be used next winter in
carrying tho United States mails in
.A.a<ha
AGAIN, tHe iltr~Nu.lls'I INTO Ai3sha As
permanent : tt.egs of over ore hundred
1apps. Firms and Norwesia1s, ski 81 IN
driving and raising reindeer. marks the
late expedition as Il very important one.
These Lapps expect 20 have herds OF their
own sc)n as they can procure them,
and then do In Alaska What thsy WIRE
brought mp 10 d. in Iap3and-raise rem
deer fCr the market, ami train them for
transportation CONF nies.'
Il un1s rsiafd you are procuring your
schCpl stipi4ss in SEATTLE
Yes. in TIE past We have found San
FfT.Hciss, better market. but This vesr
| am making trial 81 tsc Seattle r1or-
Grants. | sec nc goJ1 reason why Sstttle
should put D. alse 10 successfully CfIl-
Iete with san Franc 500 for ifs7 Alaska
trade / am buying quite extensively II
hardware. lumber. aroc.ssJs. dry goods,
Cfofhsnc. coal asst drugs. for the several
reindeer stations. aiso for thu u,aChtIs in
the governments st'saoc.S