The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-28
REINDEER IN
THIS COUNTRY.
Enterprise in Alaska Has Proved
Very Successful.
THEIR NUMBER IS NOW 1923.
Are Distributed In Nine Herds, and Rein
deer Mail Routes Hava Been Established
and Work Well
THEIR NUMBER IS NOW 1929.

The experiment of importing TO and
raising reindeer I'm Alaska, begun by the
government as far back as 1882 has proved
successful, despite frequent reports 10 the
contrary.
One hundred and thirteen Lapps. Nor
wegisns and Firms wero brought over TO
this country and sent TO Alaska Three
have died there, from 20 10 % have return
ed home, and from 50 TO 81 are still in
Alaska.
The government has carried on two
reindeer enterprises in Alaska, Com
mencing with ls92, IL has annually intro
duced reindeer into Alaska from siberia
for breeding purposes.
And in the fall of 1897 *hen the country
was startled by reports that the miners
who had rushed into the kiondike were
facing the rigors OF an antarctic winter
with an Insufficient food supply. the sew
erai chambers OF commerce and Dewspa-
pers on the Pacific coast made a general
call on the government for action. Con-
eress voted n sum of money to send re-
lief.
The secretary OF war at once proceeded
10 avail himself OF every method that
pTDutttO 10 duOfu Fthttf WIN tht hopNf
that IL the majority OF methods employed
failed, at least one might succeed, large
supply OF provisions was gathered At
Dyes, Alaska.
Army pack mule trains were sent from
Wyoming 10 Alaska and packers en-
ployed. Managers Of leading transporta-
ton companies engaged in the Alaska
trade were summoned to Washington and
offered contracts for the carrying OF re-
H. Int. tha VnE
Among the other plans, the government
sent TO Lapland for a number OF reindeer
and trained Lapp drivers for transporting
food in midwinter into the suffering pop
ulation.
STARVED TO DEATH.
Five hundred and thirty-eight reindeer
were brought over by the war department
from Lapiand to Alaska. Their native
moss was brought with them in sufficient
quantity to last .-le herd until they
should reach the moss pastures or Alaska,
which was known to be GO miles distant
from the coast at Haines Mission where
the deer would be landed for their over
land trip, provided there was no unusual
detention at Puget Sound, where they
would be changed from cars TO steamer,
and on the coast of Alaska, where they
should be landed TO be driven inland.
A combination of circumstances result
ed IN their being detained some nine days
at Seattle and three weeks at Haines Mis-
SION. The result of this detention was
that between 800 and 400 OF the 5ss deer
were starved to death at Haines Mission
and a number of the others were 80 weak
ened that they died after reaching the
moss pastures.
After acquiring sufficient strength the
remaining deer were started for the CEN
trail Yukon valley, a distance of 1000 miles,
through an unbroken wilderness, without
n road or trail. Casualties OF travel,
and so on, caused slight loss In the
number leaving but ia to reach their des-
tination.
Ninety-two of these have been turned
over to the Episcopal mission at the
mouth of the Tanana in exchange for an
equal number of deer owned by the mis-
sion I'm another part OF Alaska There is
no puzzle or mystery about II whatever.
The reindeer, as would cattle. horses
or other animals, under the same circum-
stances, died of starvation. Neither cli-
mate nor country had anything to do with
1t. These deer were all geidings, trained
TO harness and brought over exclusively
for transportation purposes. and the need
OF them passed away before their arrival
at their destination.
BIO INCREASE IN ALASKA.
The main reindeer enterprise OF the
government was commenced as carly as
1882 I'm the Introduction of domestic rein
deer into Alaska from Siberia for breed
ing purposes. During the past eight
years ge7 reindeer have thus been brought
into Alaska by the department Of the In
terror.
The Increase by birth OF fawns In Alas
ka during these eight years has been SS42.
OF this number there remain at present
in Alaska 1923, including the % deer re-
manning from the Lapland expedition.
Ths reindeer born in Alaska are much
larger and heavier than their parents,
born and raised I'm Siberia.
The birth I'm Alaska OF 3,342 fawns from
the s97 brought from Siberia, and the in
crease i'm size and weight OF these fawns,
does not Indicate that the Alaska cli-
mate and food disagrees with the rein
deer.
The total number now In Alaska Of ss27
would have been much larger, but for the
fact that in the winter of 1898 AS deer
were driven to Point Barrow, 700 miles
In the Arctic winter night TO rescue the
ice-imprlsoned and starving whalers NJ
that point.
And upon arriving there lG0 reindeer
were slaughtered and ISSUED AZ rations
saving thereby the lives OF hundreds OF
men.
Moreover CURING tne phSt tlknt years
males have been killed TO supply the
herders and their families with fresh
meat, few have been killed by dogs and
wolves a few died from disease and
others have died from old age.
The 3a22 reindeer are distributed in nine
herds. the chief OF which are located al
Cape Prince OF Wales. the government
station at Eaton, and Point Barrow ;snc
1886 OF these deer are now the persona
property Of 20 Eskimos who have learned
the care and management of reindeer by
five years apprenticeship at the govern
ment stations.
During the winter OF Is9e-lsco. reindee,
mail routes were successfully maintained
between Eaton and Nome, Kotzebu'
Sound, SC. Michael and Nulsto, the aggre
gate number OF miles travelled over a vii,
and sub Arctic country without roads, be
ing between six and seven thousand.
LAPI.ANDERs DIE, WELL.
IN 1sse slxtv-threo herders and theii