Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-24
HORSE "KNocKED OUT"
Alaskans Have No Use for Him Since the
Reindeer Has Arrived.


Some interesting facts about the
use of reindeer in Alaska are contained
in the United States Commissioner of
Education's report, just issued (Vol.
II, PIP. 16O1-1647). The report states:
Siberian reindeer were first I'M
ported by our government in 1891 as
q humanitarian movement. The
Alaskans were ready to starve, for
their sole food-whales, walrnses and
native game-had been mostly killed
or frightened away by white hunters.
The progress from this initiative has
been great. In July, 1897, the Alaskan
herds amounted to 1466, at four sta.
tions north and south of Prince OF
Wales-the most western cape on the
American mainland. This number
has since greatly increased, not only
by native births, but by an agency
established in Siberia for securing
animals all through the year and haV-
ing them ready for transportation
within the brief summer Ill which
navigation is permitted by Arctic Ice;
Siberian owners often refnsed to sell
their reindeer unless they were them
selves taken along to care for those
members of their families, )" and
they became schoolnasters, rs 1t were,
to Alaskan herder apprentices.
1t was soon, however, ascertainei
that the Lapps were superior to all
other natioualities as regards the most
improved methods of handling rein
deer. An agent dispatched to Lap
land prevailed OH seven families OF
the most expert trainers to teach their
mystery in Alaska for three years.
This service they performed with
gratifying success. Then three OF
them we're persuaded to remain, be-
coming herd owners, while four, III
accordance with the original terms,
were carried hack to their homes.
The reindeer superintendent kieH-
mann whose name bespeaks Morse,
man, if not a Lapp-soon Went abroad
with orders to import a permanent
colony from Lapland for building up
a sort of norma! school of reindeer
culture.
1t is now demonstrated that for the
development of Alaska rein1ne are an
absolute necessity. Dogs. horses and
mules are as nothing in comparison.
They all starve where the reindeer
finds plenty to eat, and freeze where
he has no care for shelter. 10 capa-
bilities of our Arctic camels have never
been so tried and found not wanting
as in Alaska. In the winter OF 1857,
when Congress had voted 5000, 600 for
sending food to starving Klondikers
and 400 whalers frozen in still further
north, it proved that no other crea
ture but the reindeer could either fad
food on the routes of rescue OF draw
enough Of it for its own subsistence.
Reindeer gathered from the different
stations then afforded the only reason
able plan of relief, aud showed beyond
a doubt tha. they are invaluable as
freighters, mail carriers and aids to
miners prospecting where no other
IlIGIuS VI VI diIo lOt loFiOu Soo Wv
them.
Early i, 1897 three men with sevel-
teen reindeer finished trip Of 1000
miles, the longest known to have been
ever made with the same teams. Their
route was through unknown regions,
pm tly to discover new oasis Of moss
pasture and partly to learn what could
be done away from trains and timber.
In twelve hours of one day they made
eighty-fve miles. The cold was
sometimes II degrees below zero, but
the colder it was the more the rein
deer throve. and at night found their
own food In spite of poorga-
which is q blizzard, raised to the high
est power-all would have gone well
to the end But when nearing their
goal no moss could be discovered
where it had been declared to abound.
After all, in forced march of four
days, four only of the seventeen in the
foodless teams perishcd.