Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-22
Government Report Criticizes
Rev. Jackson's Missionary
Work in Alaska
THRILLING EVENT
RECALLS
Large Sum Has Been Expended in
Purchase of Reindeer for Alaska In
dians-About 10000 Of the Animals
Now in That Territory-They Fur
nish Food and Transportation.

has report from Special Agent Frank
c. Churchill concerning the manage
ment Of the schools and the reindeer in
Alaska, by Rev. Sheldon jackson.
which reflects somewhat upon that
gentlemans business capacity. Mr.
Jackson is the agent of the department
of education for the district of Alas
ka and originated the scheme to make
the natives of Alaska self supporting
by the introduction of reindeer into
their country.
1t appears that the government has
imported, first and last, 2,0S5 head of
reindeer, at cost of approximately
100000. These reindeer have multi
piled until the total number in all the
various herds is now estimated at
1900.
The government, however, owns IN
eneumbered less than 1000. the rest
having been loaned or given to the Va
rious missionary societies which maiu-
tain 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. 1t is complained,
however, that these animals when they
We're sold to the government cost the
government $25 head.
The report criticises the expenditure.
of money at Point Barrow for the es-
adjustment of a school, the most
northern educational institution in the
world. The report says in commun-
ity where there are 1000 persons living
on, a sandpit there is a government
schol erected at cost of s6.571, altao
the allotment of money for it made by
the secretary of the interior was only
$4,000. The implication is that thu
other $500 was secured by mis'tp-
preparation of the public funds. Ths
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 $1,000
a year for teaching the school. No
action has yet been taken upon the
report.
Sheldon Jackson has been prom
inent fNure in the west a great many
years, first as home missionary III
the western part of the United States
and then in Alaska, where his knowl-
edge of people and conditions resulted
in his choice for the place Of agent of
the educational department. 1t was
soon after he was so engaged that Mr.
Jackson, becoming impressed with the
poverty and desperate need of the ma
tives of western Alaska, enlisted the
government in the scheme of import
ing Siberian domesticated reindeer
which are simply domesticated cari-
bou-tfat they might become means
of helping the natives to support them
selves. The inroads of the white man
the miner, the whaler and the fur
trader-had destroyed their natural
means of support and made it neces-
sary 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
ognized. The only effect of their con-
tact with white civilization has been
pauperization and the defamation of
their numbers thru disease.
It is very likely that Mr.. Jackson
has not been business-like in MS
methods. He is not a business man.
but his importation of reindeer, on one
special occasion, more than justified
all the expense the government has
ever incurred and that distinguished
service was rendered not to natives,
but to white men.
If it had not been for Sheldon Jack
sons reindeer the four or five hundred
whalers corked up in the Arctic at
Point Barrow in the winter o. 1897 and
1898 would have persisted Of hunger
One of the most trilling chaorers in the
history Of the Pacific coast is the
story of the Jarvis expedition. 1t may
be that the government has expended
1920, 900 on reindeer for the Indians of
Alaska, but it is the only thing the
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 that
far frontier.
Perhaps the reason the government
does not own more reindeer is because
it has been the policy of the agent
with the approval Of DR.. Harris, the
United States commissioner of educa-
ton. to get these reindeer as fast as
nossible into the hands of natives, that
they may become a source of revanue
to them either for the transportation
which they furnish or for their meat
supply.