New-York tribune., 1908-02-02
REINDEER IN ALASKA.
Remarkable Success Of Experiment OF Df.
Jackson, Missionary.

Great interest is being excited in scientific -
commercial circles in America by ths splendd "
suits of the skilled and assduous efforts OF ph
Sheldon Jackson. a Presbyterian clergyman %
preserve from extinction the Esquinau tribes OF
Alaska, says The Pail Mall Gazette" Few per-
sons in England may be aware that In the mioo"
of the last century scheme for utilizing canes 70
Arizona was tried This was Disappointing fah-
ure: but many people are saying that TX tne
attempt had been backed by Dr. jackson u hl'sh'
have been crowned with success.
most difficult problem has been triumphanuy
solved in Alaska. where there were fifteen year,
ago only sixteen reindeer To-day. in conse1eenes
mainly of DIR. Sheldon Jackson's perssverins ei'
forts, there are in the territory 5000 OF thess All
mails. This able pioneer some years since reai1e1
that starvation must be the fate OF the Esquinsu
unless some means of subsistence otner than sne
chase could be devised for them He noticed 'hs'
with the advent of white settlers the whales sea
caribou and walruses were disappearing ne she"
that the Sberians. living in climatic conduon'
closely resembling those OF the vast penihS-
were self-supporting. simply because they pvs
sessed immense herds OF reindeer. Not only - -. -.
animal wonderfully prolific. but It's sesh is exeeA
for food. it's hide furnishes good clothing snd -
strength. docility and endurance render II in'AA-
able either for carrying or drawing Ioscs us
Dr Jackson Is Phil0soph:cal e,nnoI0s aDf ard he
became convinced that the Esauimsu OF the
tory. nomadic by hereditary custom, were o'1 ana.
OF hefding He bsneved that reindeer hsstsns s.
would be pursuit OF fascinating Interest 10 NV
natives. SO
The initial Of the experiment inducss srns
United States authorities 70 take Gp tilc s.,srsd
in earnest. and reindeer stations are now sesss,ry
widely Alaska. while ones are cof colsfs rsv
being established The industry In ssIs' rs,rrs-
is under the supervision of the Bureau o. - rhs
tion which attached 70 the Department. - si,l-
Interior. DR.. Jackson Is the bureau ssenL. ~
cation In the northern section OF the - re
Experience is proving the immense Na,"T ssssG
deer draft animals. In the winter OF .--sysllsd
the superintendent OF one of the stations TWO
four months with reindeer teams. tras SSving
thousand miles of barren country. the uss .now.
entirely moss which they dug rom tho - isep
On another occasion a relief expedition sen ,nres
bound whalers at Point Barrow took sIonS nuSs,,ired
hundred reindeer. which were driven eisiI I.srses
miles with the temperature from 20 20 ~ sv,us,srion
below The animals reached their 49, nora
in perfect health and several fine tswns 49, rave
the way. For several winters the rStss. slong
been used 20 mails 10 the little slf. havs
the coast OF Bertng Sea. Most usetuI 80 rssi Tns
followed the Introduction of these arihs ar.s - now
native howell has changed Its character, Siv with
a house, often furnished quite conlIoi1N''
pictures and even musical Instruments Ata,,sd 20
Recently the Russian government ma INV more
the sale for transportation 70 AlasSa 20 ~ means
of the Siberian reindeer. but this Is ~ 1ha tsrrt-
serious blow 20 the industry, -. -, me
tory can now De completely stocked tru -, sor,iara
crease of the present herds within us p ow ard hy
The yearly increase Is about 40 per Cr'' sand
the year 1910 there should be seventy
reindeer In Alaska