Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07

The predictions made when DR.. Sheldon
jackson introduced tame reindeer into
Alaska that ''at no distant day that part
OF Uncle Sans domnions would have
great reindeer ranches. like the cattle
ranches OF the southwest" and possibly
not less profitable. have not yet been made
good but the latest reindeer news from
Alaska is that the herds are multiplying
and that the animals are proving an ex-
ceedingy valuable factor in the life of the
territory.
The fact that this good news is accom-
panied by the information that certain
amount of reindeer graft has been going
only adds to the conviction that IL was
a good thing to import the great draft ami
NAL OF Lapland and northern Siberia into
America. For nobody would graft in
reindeer unless they were valuable.
The enterprise has been an interesting
one from the start. 1t began when DIR.
Jackson had a few reindeer brought across
Boring strait from Siberia and started
reindeer colony at Unalaska. This was
fifteen or sixteen years ago. Since then
there have been several other importa tions
perhaps a thousand reindeer in all; they
have done very well in their new home,
and there are now about 10000 of the ami
mails in the Alaska herds.
Import Reindeer and Herders.
One Of the largest and most interesting
importations of reindeer into this country
reached the American shore In 1895 1t
came by way of the steamer Manitoban,
which arrived on February "a at Jersey
City. The entire cargo capacity of the
ship was utilized for the Importation 1t
included men, women and children who
had been born and brought up" with
reindeer, as well as the reindeer them
selves.
The cargo was made up as follows: Five
hundred and thirty-seven reindeer, 41S
reindeer sleds, SIS sets of reindeer harness
a consignment OF Lapland dogs, 1000 bags
of moss (for fodder) 43 Laplanders 10
Firms and is Norwegians-to serve as herd
ers and drivers-and their families liz
souls in all, 6s men. 10 women and 20 chill
dren.
This collection Of immigrants from the
far European north made up a most in
teresting company. Most OF the Lapps
were dressed when they arrived exactly as
they were IN the habit of dressing at home
each one wearing a great fur coat, heavily
trimmed about the cuffs and collar with
bright red. blue and yellow flannel borders,
the same gaily hued materials being
used as fringe about the skirts OF the
coats.
Most of their hats were four cornered
and made OF cloth in the brightest colors
some having their hats stuffed with moss
Their trousers were of skin. worn with
the fur outside and fitted tightly to the
leg. while their foot coverings were much
like Indian moccasins, decorated at the
top with flannel bands to match the flannel
trimmings of the big fur coats
few of the men were dressed somewhat
as the rest of US dress, but they were
easily distinguishable from the crew of the
vessel by their moccasins and the big, ugly
looking sheath knives that hung from their
belts. The dress of the women? They
were attired nearly like the men that
you had to look twice to know for sure
whether your were gazing at a woman or
one of the young men of the party.
But all the women wore heavy brass and
silver finger rings, with bangles which
they were fond of displaying. One of them
when the party photographed, rolled
up the sleeves of her right arm and held
her hand in such position that the rings
would show plainly.
Sturdy and Efficient.
There was pride among the men, too
One was especially proud of his head cover
Ing. which was unlike that of any other
IN the party being a fur cap with very
long ear flaps, which hung over his Shout
ders and passed under his great beard to
his waist, where they terminated in green
tassels.
Another. a Norwegian. insisted on having