The Washington times., 1906-12-16
Reindeer Has Saved
Alaska From Want
It Is not more than fifteen

\
Alaska, the enterprise has
passed the initial stage Of experiment
and Is a successful one. says the New
York Herald. The scheme appeared
preposterous from the very first. and
though its original motive was purely
philanthropic. II has become a valuable
Industrial enterprise
The beginning and growth of the
idea are not generally known DR..
Sheldon Jackson. while making a trip
OF inspection OF the missionary sta
tons and Government schools IN Alas
kas in 1890 was impressed with the fact
that the natives IN Alaska were rapidly
losing the sources OF their food sup
ply. The whales were going further
north each year, beyond the reach u
the natives, who had no vessels 10 aid
tnem IN the pursuit: the seals we're
rapidly being exterminated. and rhe
Eskimo must often travel fifteen or
twenty miles In the winter 10 catch
even one. The wild caribou. which
had formerly been So easily CAPTURED
had been frightened away by the
methods OF the modern hunters ana
was seldom seen. And nor onlv v-as
the food supply becoming a serious
question, but that OF clothing as well
for the whalebone ivory. tusks. seal
skins and oil had been the coin which
purchased the warm reindeer skin for
clothing from the Siberians across the
strait
II did not take DR.. Jackson long 20
decide that the United States would
soon have TO choose between feeding
20oO0 natives or letting them starve 10
death, the former alternative being ey-
pensive because OF the distance f-om
any source or supplies The idea OF
making the Eskimos seIf-supporting
came 70 him from the fact that the
siberiRns. Just across the strait. living
under exactly the same conditions
were able TO care for themselves. The
difference between them lay IN the fact
that the Siberians had herds OF rein
deer 20 fall back ssss= =-Hssz game was
scarce
The following winter DR. Ia.u,so,
brought the matter before Co7zrasy
and asked for an APPROPRIATION uyitb
which 70 import a few reindeer into
alaska as an experiment The Cozar,-
ment could not see the wisdom OF rffs
plan. but several private indlviduals
raised 1900 with which the experiment
was begun. Later the Government re-
4ehted and made an appropriation
Whleh has been increased untu II
amounts TO t25. 900 annually.
The next difficulty was N r.-s,,...s-
tie Ha'iVes or Siberia 70 part with any
OF their deer. After The expedition ia
sailed for 1.500 miles along tbs eib..-t-.-
cost they at last succeeded IN aD5f,,.-
80. VINO would barter the deer for
american goods. Cash he WpJI1 ,ot
accept This trouble has basT -
come In measure. though tbars d.
sun q reluctance on the ovvosrs, -
70 spare any OF their stock.
he prOntS OF reindez- rsf.,-.
si4oE nous and the work Is sipnDIa
eoo WHICH Viii cost It's owner less tbg,
year Tor the first four ysars 7v,4
u4s end or that time sell 81 -.
mines Tor $50 20 800 for meat - 4,
% trained 10 the sled Il viii be vvor,b
'"ISe aS much They are prolific ard
0AteI 1hey are two years old VIII s55
lawn 10 the herd every year TOR ten
So7rA- On account OF their tirDfd snd
s4ssGlCus habits the reindeer a..
S~S4'S Hsrdeds and one man can easU,,
manage loo head The COW 60
'eseuprul Of very rich milk ahout ~.
thickness OF cream. which makes de
Hcaous cheese and, mixed With pyste-
forms refreshing drink
Ahoush the Alaskan deer eanrot
eQuA4 uose Of Lapland in speed. a nafr
oI them can pull q load OF 500 to no
pounds at the rate OF thirtv-nva ~.
DAY ana keep II up for weeks ,-rs--
can travel at night as we'll as =, 81.
DAY, % that during the long 49,,
nights they make transporta tfor -.
sIoIe whereas a day team, does =.
Ihey can also be used for paclxi,s- -
Tor riding when one becomes 49,.
toned to the motion.
4he United States Government fos,.
certain number OF the dee- - -.
ihlssiohs or 70 people who have sho1y,
ther ABILITY 10 care for them At ~.
END OF three or five years the Govern
ment mas the right 20 call for the re-
turn or the original number. Tba Con-
gIegauonal mission at Cape Prince ~
"Ales was granted the loan OF 100 deer
IA i'o'' since then it has paid them
oaCA ana has 1000 head IN its own
ne possession or a herd at
each mission station means rnurn 7,
ss'aollshes the permansnce OF the mis-
sion, for without Il the natives are
from home large part OF the time IN
search Of food. And since the advent
their homes and go 10 the mining VII
lagos where they live BY begging and
immortality. This life would soon re-
suit I'm their extinction. II also gives
the missionaries the ability to rswara
Industry by establishing those SO in
olined IN the reindeer industry ana
promoting their Well-being
The herd also means a suppIv of
fresh meat for consumption where ths
food is mostly salted or canned. T-hts
Is no small benefit 20 comfort ana
health. The reindeer also provides the
missionaries a way Of reaching ths
outlying settlements
What the camel is 70 the desert
the reindeer is 10 the far North .rhe
full development OF the mining inter
ests in Alaska cannot be realized tiu
there are sufficient deer in that region
20 supply the miners with fod and
other necessaries and to connect him
with the outside world
Should there be no more render
imported from Alaska. according to
the present rate of increase within
less than twenty-five years there will
be 100000 head of these animals IN
Alaska In thirty-f1ve years the num-
Der may reach 10000. 900. and the
United States will be receiving from