The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-21
AGENT !
IN. THE LIMELIGHT.
Rev. Sheldon Jackson's Disposal
of Alaskan Beasts Is
-"
:. =: rs> Questioned. ~:
Special to Tho journal.

Special to The Journal. - ~..--,...:
Washington, Aug. 21.-secretary
Hitchcock of the interior department:
has q report from Special Agent Frank
z. Churchill concerning the manage
Alaska, by Rev. Sheldon Jackson, which
reflects somewhat upon that gentle.
mans business capacity. Mr.. Jackson
is the agent Of the department of edu-
cation for, the. district Of I Alaska and
originated the scheme to make the ma
tives Of Alaska self-supporting by the
Introduction Of reindeer into their coun-
try.
It appears that the government has
imported, first and last, 2,OS5 head of
reindeer, at a. cost Of approximately
$780, 900. These reindeer have multi,
piled until the total number in all the
various herds is now estimated at
$4,000.
The government, however, owns unen-
cumb ered less than 1900, the rest hav
missionary societies which maintain
mission stations in Alaska among the
natives, where the Eskimo are taught
the care of these animals and from
which they obtain Individual possession
of them. Ills complained, however,
that these animals when they were sold
to sthe> government cost the government
$25 a: head.
The report :criticizes the expenditure
Of money! at Point Barrow for the es-
+ Establishment of d school, the most north
Kern educational institution in the world
The report says In community where
there areA 2Qeo persons living on q.
saeeted seeas eds S ath sshG Sa
allotment Of money for it made by the
secretary 4of the interior was only
$4,000. The implication is that the
other $4,000: was secured by. misap-.
proIriation Of the public funds. The
dwelling erected in the name of the
Presbyterian board Of home missions
Is occupied by Rev. s. r. Spring and
wife who is, the local superintendent
Of the reindeer and who is paid $500
"a year for teaching the school. No
faction. has yet been taken upon the
freport: ! l.. 49, =
/ Sheldon jackson has been&a prominent
1 first as a home missionary in the west
7 ern part Of United States and then
in Alaska, where his knowledge of
people and conditions resulted in his
choice for the place of agent Of the
educational department. It was soon
after he was so engaged that Mr.. Jack
son, becoming impressed with the pov.
erty and desperate need Of the natives
| of western Alaska, enlisted the govern
ment in the scheme Of importing Sibe-
rian domesticated reindeer-which are
simply domesticated caribou-that they
might become means of helping the
| natives to support themselves. The in
roads of the white mantle miner, the
whaler and the fur-trader-had de-
| stroyed their natural means of support
and made it necessary that something
else be supplied. ..,~ ..... - ....,
+ The government has never done any.
thing for these Indians. They are not
held together by tribal relations as
the Indians in the states were, and
their title to land has never been rec
tact with white civilization has beer
pauperization, and the defamation OF
their numbers thru. disease. :.
It is very likely that Mr.. jackson
has not been business1ike> in his meth
dds. He is not business man, but his
importation Of reindeer, on one special
occasion, more than justified all the ex
pense the government has ever in
CURED and that distinguished service
was rendered not to natives, but =, tc
white men.
Ii 1t had not been Tor Sheldon JACK
son IS reindeer the four or five hundred
whalers corked up in the Arctic al
Point Barrow in the winter Of 1897.an6
1898 would have persisted Of hunger
One5of the most thrilling chapters in the
! history. of the Pacific coast is the story
Of the Jarvis expedition. It may bt
= that. the government has i expended
$220,OOO on reindeer for the Indians Of
Alaska, but it is. the only thing thu
government ever did for them while
taking possession of their country, de
> priving them Of their means of support
; and leaving them the unprotected prey
Of unscrupulous adventures on tha
far frontier. 70. !, 49,,
!, Perhaps the reason the government
does not own more reindeer is becaus,
it has been the policy Of the agen
y|with the approval Of DR.. Harris, tn,
:. United States commissioner of educa
ton, to get these reindeer as fast a.
I possible into the hands Of natives, tina
!, they may become source Of revenue t,
them either for the transportation
I which they furnish or for their mea
!, supply.