Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-05-04

senatorial courtesy prevailed.
Teller has this at heart. He only
asks $4,000. 1t is a small sum. Let him
have it,"
So the senators argued. and the first
appropriation was made in 1894. In
1897 this was increased to $4,000. In
1900 IL was changed to $25, 900, and has
since continued at this figure. In all,
the government has given .$1S3. 900 for
the propagation and purchase of REIN
deer for Alaska, with the following re-
suits. Today there are 5000 reindeer in
Arctic and sub-Arctic Alaska. OF these
the government owns 1000 and the ma
tives own 1000. Any one of these is
worth for the butcher alone $50. This
is to say that for food merely the gov
eminent and the native have each $4,000
In reindeer out of the original investment
Of $1s3, 900 1t would be interesting to
know how many of the investments of
the government pay as well.
Satisfactory as the reindeer have been
from a financial point of view, that is
the least important result. The REIN
deer is so prolific that this modest begin
ming soon entailed a system of distri-
button, which has since been successfully
followed. At first Siberian herders were
brought over to care for the herd. To
these Eskimos were apprenticed in order
to learn the care OF the deer, to train and
break them to harness. They served
five years, receiving food and clothes
from the government. They were also
to have the loan of two female deer a
year, and to regard these and their fawns
as the nucleus OF a future herd. After
FIVE years. II the apprentice was salts
factory. he was to receive the loan of
enough deer to bring the number up 10
So AS a herder he was now obliged to
support himself and family and could
take apprentices himself. For 20 years
the government exercises supervision
over these herders. II a herder should
drink, or not take proper care of his
herd, he can be dispossessed and his
herd loaned to another person. On his
part he agrees not to sell any female
deer to any purchaser except the govern
ment.
Deer were also loaned 10 the mission
stations, with the same provisions as to
apprentices and sale, they agreeing to
return to the government. when called
upon, the original number of deer loaned.
One instance alone illustrates the value
of these loans to the missions. In 1894
one hundred deer were loaned TO the
Congregational mission at Cape Prince
of Wales. Since then the mission has
repaid the loan, and now owns 1000 head
of deer. Such ownership means to the
mission a permanence ii could not other
wise have, since the natives, not being
required to go afar for food, escape the
Generalization Of the mining camps. 1t
also affords an opportunity of encourag
ing and rewarding worthy native families
and promoting their material interests
1t affords, moreover, a source Of rev.
enue in selling male deer to the miners
for food and for transportation. A sledge
deer is valued at $3.50, and is suppressed
ing dogs for this purpose. A couple of deer
in harness will haul $50 pounds and find
their own food in the reindeer moss be-
meath the snow, AS food the deer afford
a constant supply OF fresh meat, which
means much TO people condemned to
live on canned goods the greater part Of
the year.
OF the 90 owners of herds, two-th thirds
| are Eskimos who have secured their
deer through apprenticeship, ond have
been trusted to become owl srs. Two
are women, and one of tee, with the
exception of the mission at cape Prince
of Wales, is the foremost of what will
yet come to be the reindeer aristocracy
| Of Alaska class corresponding to the
great cattle ranchers Of the plains. Mary
Antisarlook now Andrewuk, owns 1858
| deer and fawns. A woman who can
neither read nor write, she speaks seven
| languages, and has been OF great SER
vice to the government as an interpreter.
| II to her natural abilities as linguist,
woman Of affairs, and executive ability,
she had had the advantages of an edu-
cation, and been placed outside of the
Arctic regions, she would have been zone
| of the women OF our times" AS II Is,
she is the Reindeer Queen OF Alaska"
This is what the reindeer has done In
a few years for the material prosperity
Of the natives of Alaska. 1t is but the
beginning Of the future OF the reindeer
over a pasturage which will easily ac-
commodate 10000, 900 head-a pasturage
OF perpetual snow, over which no other
animal can Craze. The reindeer is a
timid animal. A sudden movement will
put him 70 flight Being umid, he Is
gregarious. and a herder can easily care