East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-04-04
GOING TO NORWAY
OLAF JoRGENsEN BROUGHT
REINDEER TO ALASKA,
For Three Years Has Been In the
Wilds of the North Assisting In Lo-
eating and experimenting the
Herds Brought by the United States
Government to Alaska-Mission-
aries Now In Control of Two-Thiris
of the Herds.

Olaf Jorgensen, Norwegian who
accompanied the reindeer brought by
the United States government from
Lapland to Alaska few years ago,
passed through Pendleton last even
ing on his way from Seattle to his
native land. Norway.
For three years Jorgensen has been
in the wilds of Alaska assisting In
the distribution and supervision of the
reindeer herds among the natives and
missionaries of Alaska.
He says that the Investigations re-
Gently conducted by the United States
government shows that over two
thirds of the reindeer introduced by
the government into Alaska are in the
hands of missionaries and not with
the natives as intended.
Rev. Sheldon Jackson, agent of the
educational bureau of the interior de-
partment, who has been in charge of
the reindeer herds in Alaska, has
LOANED" the herds promiscuously to
/ the missionaries in Alaska, until many
of them have grown wealthy from the
increase of the herds. Mr.. Jorgensen
recently accompanied Special Agent
Churchill of the interior department
in his investigations of the reindeer
situation in Alaska and visited every
section in the territory where rein
deer are kept There are now about
1000 reindeer in ALASKA, costing the
government about S225,000 including
| transportation.
The agent found that the natives
are not deriving any benefit from the
reindeer but that most of the increase
in the herds is going to the various
Alaskan missionaries as their share
Jorgersen says Alaska is an ideal
reindeer country. The vast forests
rich in forage foods, the great uplands
covered with coarse grass and tundra
and the immense masses of moss
found in the mountains all make the
country peculiarly adapted to the
production of reindeer in large num-
berS and of excellent quality.
He says the herds brought from
Lapland were easily acclimated In
Alaska. Very little loss was sustain
ed in the transfer and the natives OF
Alaska adapt themselves to the use
of the reindeer readily. The country
Is even more naturally adapted tc
reindeer than Lapland,, since there |.
moro sustenance in Alaska than ir
many parts of Lapland and Norway.
He says it will be but a few year!
until reindeer teams will be used 1.
carrying supplies from all the minin;
centers into the interior of Alaska in
stead of the husky dogs, which ar,
now extensively used. He looks for
ward to the time when northeri
Alaska will produce more reindee
than any other portion of the world
1t is such an immense territory an,
. provides such natural advantages 70
this industry that he believes it vii
be one of the logical industrial de
velorments of the territory.
Jorgensen goes to Norway to re
main permanently. He owns a sma1
farm" on the Arctic ocean, south @
, Lofoden isles in the extreme north
: ern part OF Norway, and expects t
spend his life in that country. Hi
farm" produces fish, furs pine need
. les and reindeer milk and meat an
. small trading and fishing vessels ar
his only means of communication wit
the world outside