Douglas Island news., 1899-09-27


 on the News. His Defense Unan-
 swerable How He Looks to
 the News Han.
 Dr. Sheldon Jackson and Prof. Kelly, of the Alaska school department, made Douglas City a visit last Monday after noon and the News is pleased to ac- knowledge call from the two gentle men. It has been our pleasure to meet Prof. Kelly on several occasions, but we had never met Dr. Jackson before, He is probably the best known man in all Alaska and while he has many bit ter enemies, he has hosts of friends who are standing by him in the war fare that has been made against him by his enemies in this district.
 Those who have read the Alaska pa pers and observed the severe criticisms that have from time to time been made against the Doctor, will wish to know something about the man that can stand off, the enemies who have been so necessarily fighting him. We have looked through all his reports which are profusely illustrated, for cut of the lighting Doctor" but we could get no idea of his appearance until we met him last Monday. He is like Eaccheus, the sycamore tree climb CT of bible fame, being short in stature. He is about sixty years of age, full beard and regular features, good con versationalist, earnest and interesting, and impresses one with being in the presence of a sincere and honest man.
 While Dr. Jackson did not say so in as many words, still we could observe that he keenly felt that a great wrong had been done him in Alaska and relied upon the future enlightenment of the people and the results of his work for his vindication. Congress has been appropriating small amount of money each year for the introduction of reindeer into Alaska and one thing has puzzled us, which is, that if the in- troduction of reindeer is such a total failure, why does congress continue the appropriations? We have been seeking light upon this question and it has been with interest and pleasure that we have been reading the official reports upon this subject and we be. Iieve that if the people would inform themselves upon this matter, there would, at least, be no occasion for claiming that Dr. Sheldon Jackson was insincere in the belief that only ulti- mate good would result from the intro duction of these animals into Alaska.
 Of course we asked the Doctor about Cape Nome. He was at Anvil City four or five times during the past year and he confirms all the good reports re- ceived from that country.
 "Doctor," said the News man, ''we would like little information on this reindeer introduction The people know what your opponents say, but really, they know nothing of your de fense. How many animals are in Alas kanow?"
 "There are at this time," replied the Doctor, about 5000 of these animals in Alaska. At the Eton station, sixty miles north of St. Michaels, there are now 600 head. These 5000 are in seven different herds. They increase very rapidly. As an illustration, will say that in January 1896 the government borrowed from the Congregational Mission at Cape Prince of Wales 296 head to drive to Point Barrow for the ice imprisoned sailors. The govern ment promised to return an equal num- Der with the natural increase and un- der this promise there were returned this year TIA all from this herd of 296."
 "What motive first prompted the in- troduction of these animals?"
 Its inception was to prevent the starvation of the Eskimos who were be- ing deprived of their means of living by the destruction of fur bearing animals and VEaIes, but from our acquaintance