The Nome nugget., 1903-04-18
 USES OF REINDEER Mr. iindSeth CriticiSes - Management.
GOVERNMENT kER
lie Says Know Nothing of Rein. deer and When on a Jour.
 ney Use Dogs.

FDrroa NOME NUGGET In your paper of April s. a question appeared if any, to the natives and other people of this section. Many, if not all, will say that under the present circumstan- ces they are no good whatsoever. teo- pie who hold this view are to be ex- cused because the reindeer have had no opportunity to prove what they can do and what they are fit for. It seems that the missionaries who control the herds are afraid to drive with them. Rev. Hendrkson from Golovin was in Nome some two cr three weeks ago, but he came with d dog team. He was offered some freishting with reindeer from St. Michael, but he could not do it on account of the deep snow, as he fear ed the reindeer could get no moss on the trail. Gle Bahr Ca Lappl at Eaton station had different view of the proposition, being willing 10 freight but the missionary thought it not ad- visable.
 l have not at any time. in other coun- tries, heard of so much trouble as here about reindeer not being able to get their food. The hrst time l heard such statement was in 1901 when Dr. F. H. Gamble, uperintendent of the Eaton reindeer station took mail to Kotzcbue sound with dogs: and travel ed around inspecting the reindeer sta. tions with q dog team. This is one reason which impels people to ask ques- tions us to the uses of reindeer in Alaska.
 The deer were brought to Alaska for the benefit of the natives but there are only five who have received any good from them thus far. The natives should learn to drive and break the deer which might be used for the trans porta'ion of passengers and mail: the natives thus would receive a nice little income if stationed in different sections of the peninsula with camps for that purpose.
 The hills and mountains is the home of the reindeer. and not the missions. There are few thousand deer here, but think the chances are slim even for government official to get d ride with deer to any business point he might be called to.
 The natives and Lapps who have reindeer are under government con trO: for this reason the government could arrange for the distribution of reindeer camps al convenient distances from Nome to Candle, Mary'o Igloo, Cape Prince oi Wales or any other point. Fresh deer could lhns be had at all times and the traveller could quickly reach his destination. This would give more natives employment, and a good chance to learn how to han de deer, besides always earning few dollars during the winter, which would also be benefit to big con- munity of them, for natives always go together like a flock of sheep.
 The traveller would in this way have comfort on his trip. sitting in his sleigh the entire journey, great change from following d dog team. and paying bi. money for the use of his own legs. Iu Northern Russia, overland to Norway, where the snow is as plentiful as it is here, hundreds of business men and fishermen travel in the winter and spring with reindeer. This travel is as steady as railroad train. In that sec ion travelled five years. The stations are erected by the government. This is about in latitude Fl or 72 deg. north, where in my day the only means of win ter travel was with deer. This was the way we got our outside mails. Now they have two steamers weekly: ant! within five years Nome will have the kame. We will have ice-breakers and weekly steamers from the outside and railroads for the inland country. Then the reindeer will be good for the table only. This, however, was not what I was going to talk about, but rather of the delay in not having the reindeer in use long ago.
 The reindeer is one of the most need- el animals in Alaska; they require a good deal of attention. Given this they will work all winter. They can be made SD tame that they will stay around the house like dogs: they can be taught to eat bread or grain. The deer has its own peculiar ways which are nee. essary to be known to his driver especi- ally on q long journey. At F o'clock, noon, they will all lie down, if a herd
 ~. thousand, and you can set your