The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-26

supply. After the recovery of the Lapp experts, the work of training the Eslxi- mos in the care of the reindeer began. , Numbers of the younger men were chos- en as pupils, and great results have fol- lowed, the Eskimos in some cases excell- ing the Lapps in the handling and driving of the animals. The work of breaking the younger deer was then taken up, and large numbers were trained to harness, and some of the stronger animals were loaned to the mail carriers
 Afterward, in March, 1900, the deer were officially ordered to be used in car- rying the mails between Eaton and Nome. The order came without warning to those in charge, so they could not elaborate a system of relay stations, and were com pelled to make their first trips, dis tance of 4S0 miles. over a roadless and trailless country. going and coming with | the same deer. Notwithstanding this handicap, the reindeer demonstrated their usefulness. making the round trips in an average of twelve days. showing their superiority over dogs.
 Since then, with the introduction of re-
  The same winter reindeer express was started between the mining camps of Nome and York, and while, as far as the use of the deer were concerned, the ex press was a success, it was discontinued after the Second trip on account of lack of patronage.
 But tho fact remains that the deer have proved their usefulness They are the arctic beast Of burden Spread, as they are. over wide expense of the Alaskian territory, they lessen the pos | sibility of starvation to a minimum and form means of transportation unex- celled for this frozen region. The rein deer stations proper and the other points at which the animals are herded are Point Barrow, Point Hope, Cape Prince of Wales, Teller Reindeer Station, Cape Douglas Gambell (st Lawrence), Co., lofrin Bay, Eaton Reindeer station and St. James Mission
 The project has been fraught by many difficulties. not the least of which was provided by the Klondike gold discov- cries. After the Lapps had been nursed back into healthfulness numbers of them went into the gold-hunting game during the summer. and the success of some, they bringing back sums varying from s1cO0 to s1Oo,OoO stampeded the entire Lapp colony the following summer sea- son, MT. Jackson having to offer as high as $500 a year and board and clothes to keep enough herders at work to insure the proper protection of the reindeer.
 During the rush into tho region by gold seekers there were among the newcomers many desperate characters and criminals. Considerable trouble was experienced from certain members of this element stealing and killing the deer. some open ly boasting that they expecreo to live off government reindeer as long as they remained. The lack of police regulations was seriously felt, as these men were never arrested, although me and im- prisonment is provided for unauthorized destruction of the animals.
 The government has expended so far in the introduction and care of the reindeer in Alaska about $120,000. That the amount of good done has more than exceeded the monetary expenditure is evidenced by the comparatively comfort which has been enjoyed by the native Eskimos and the large numbers of American miners in the district the past couple of winters. Re- ports from missionaries Tn the Alaskan region are all enthusiastic over the im- proved conditions wrought by the intro- auction of the reindeer, and 1t has been partly due to their urging, under the generalship of the Rev Sheldon Jack son, thac the United States government has decided to increase the herd to the size mentioned.