The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-02-14
Reindeer Herd I'm Alaska
Increasing Rapidly
APAYING INVESTMENT
Foundation of Herd Brought from
Siberia and the Number Now Ex-
ceets 13, 3,OOO-Solution of Govern
ment Problem of How to Relieve
Starving Natives.

the open charge that Rev. Dr. Sh Il
don s. Jackson, head of the Alaskan
educational system, gave away or
sold thousands of the animals that
the Government had imported from
Siberia at great cost.
DR.. Jackson promptly entered a
vigorous denial, and explained that
shrinkage in the size of the herd
was the natural outcome of giving
away the animals to those whom
Uncle Sam intended they should so.
The whole experiment was started
with an idea Of saving the inhabl-
tants of Alaska from starvation. Be-
fore the coming of Russians. Ameri-
cans, Germans and English the ra-
tive Alaskan never found any di,il-
Guilty In getting sustenance. The
walrus, whale and seal afforded an
endless supply of clothing food and
fuel.
But the rapid hunting of the white
man gradually decimatcd thess
sources of supply. and Uncle Sam. as
new custodian Of the lives and happl-
ness of his Alaskan charges, had to
decide between making paupers of
them, as with the Indian, by confn-
ing them to a reservation, and there
surDlying food, or to provide
means by which the natives could
work out their own salvation-and
three meals a day.
The agent of the United States
Bureau 80 Education. DR.. Sheldon
ynx tuith -, hot
has proved the key to the situation
He proposed that the United States
import domestic reindeer from 81
IBERIA, and then by teaching the young
Eskimo how to use them, to put in
the hands OF the natives a medium Of
transportation. food and clothing.
Uncle Sam was little slow to get
into action, so DR.. Jackson, having
the enthusiasm OF his plan, appealed
TO the generous minded, and raised
$4,000 from private sources.
With this money in 1892 he made
trip over the wastes of Siberia,
picked out 172 reindeer, and brought
them to Alaska on revenue cutter,
landing at Port Clarence.
In 1904 Congress was stirred to
the point OF supplying $4,000. and
from that time In various amounts
the total sum invested in reindeer
has been advanced to $4,000.
The Government had early recog-
nized that 1t did not personally have
agents enough In Alaska to see that
the right kind Of young men were
picked out to guard the herds, so
tho cooperation was solicited of all
missionaries working In Alaska.
Reindeer breeding was thus con-
Quoted as the industrial part OF the
day schools. with which the United
States Government is striving to
raise the intelligence OF the northern
country.
Competent Laplanders, who had
been in charge of herds in Norway,
were taken to Alaska to give the
benefit of their knowledge to promis-
ting young Alaska natives.
The gradual appropriations brought
from Siberia to Alaska a constantly
Increasing number Of reindeer, un-
til eventually 1880 had been i'm
ported
Under careful handling, the new
conner proved himself entirely at
homo In the Alaska climate, and in
the twelve years, between 1898 and
1905, there had been born some
1900 fawns.
The question of distribution was
another difficult problem. How was
the Government to get the reindeer
TO all parts of the vast territory, to
put them in the hands of the right
kind OF men, who would care for
them properly. and look to the fu-
tuIs interest of the whole commu-
nifty?
1t was decided to give each mission
station 100 reindeer, the same to be
held in trust. remaining the prop.
erty Of the Government, but being
used for the best interest of all the
natives In the vicinity of the station
The mission bore all the expenses
and took the responsibility Of pick
ing out proper apprentices to care
for the animals. The only reward
an apprentice received was at the enc
OF each year of faithful service
two reindeer for his personal prop
erty. This was intended to stimulat,
him to an effort to start herd o.
his own.
At the end of each five years thu
mission station was to return to tn,
Government the original 100 rein
deer, or In case some of these ha,
died, enough out of the newly borl
TO bring the total up to the origina
Investment. After this the mission
was allowed to keep the rest of th
natural Increase.
This rosy result would have de
cided the Government to continu
along the present line indefinitely, Il
fact to greatly extend the venture
had not the unfortunate charges O
irregularity forced an Investigation
The British Government gets a
Income Of $25,000,000 from tn
fsilways river boats and forests q