Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02

Ipassed an act providing a civil govern
ment for Alaska, and gave the Secretary
of the Interior authority over the educa
ton OF the natives. March =, 1885. Henry
NJ. Teller. Secretary OF the Interior. as
signed the commissioner Of education the
work of carrying this into effect. In the
following month the Rev. DR.. Sheldon
Jackson. who had been connected with
| the Presbyterian missions in Alaska, was
made general agent Of education. The
first school was erected on the Kuskokwin
river, in 1885. In five years there were
nine schools, while in the next five years
the number jumped to fifteen. Since then
the number has steadily increased, until
today there are more than seventy.
| The present chief Of the Alaskan divi-
| sion Is W. T. Lopp. who has spent the
| best part OF twenty-One years in Alaska
and began as a teacher. Not only are the
natives Of Alaska being taught English
and the three RS, but the practical use
of modern tools. Skilled in carpentry. it
is only needed to show them how to use
| the implements of civilization instead OF
| their cruder tools. The aim Of the divi-
sion is to fit the natives of Alaska/to be
able to take their stand amid the civil
liked surroundings which have hemmed
in their country, and while they are
taught to read and write, etc, they are,
also. taught how to earn their living.
X
OHc VI Tic iluC1pdl AUS Ol SoN
eminent making the natives of Alaska
independent was the Introduction Of
reindeer The value of such an in
dustry was apparent to those con-
cerned. and with little over $4,000,
which was raised by benevolent indi
viduals. pending an appropriation by
Congress. sixteen reindeer were
brought from Siberia in 1891 and III
fnllnWinr ('0nEraSS
made the first appropriation, of $4,000,
and has since continued to support the
industry. The first sixteen introduced
never entered into the industry, but as
result of the second and following
animals brought from Siberia, the
Alaska reindeer now total $1,000.
These reindeer are in number Of
herds. and the government is encourag-
ing the natives to become herders. The
method which is used to reach this end
is simple and effective. a native is
taken as an apprentice and learns all
about the care and use of the animal.
in reindeer, SO that when his term OF
service has expired he owns about fifty
deer. This makes him practically in
dependent. The only condition laid
upon him is that as his herd increases
he will employ apprentices in the way
the government did.
The bureau of education has its Offices
In the old post Office building, directly
opposite that OF the Department OF the
Interior. These. however, are compare
lively new, as the bureau was until July,
1909, housed in a small building on the
corner OF Sth and G streets In its present
location a greater amount Of space has
made it possible to better carry on the
work.
DR.. Brown is the fifth commissioner Of
education. Henry Barnard acted in that
capacity from 1867 until 1870. while his
successor. John Eaton. occupied that
place until 1885. The third commissioner
was Nathaniel III. r. Dawson, who only
acted three years, and from 1889 until
1906. when DR.. Brown was made head.
the position was held by William T.
Harris. It would be difficult to find a
man more thoroughly fitted to hold the
position than DR.. Brown, as all his life
he has been connected with educational
work.
Even his birthplace was an educational
center, as he was born in kiantone.
Chautauqua, New York He graduated
from the Illinois State Normal University
at the age of twenty, and a few years
later from the University OF Michigan.
He studied in German universities two
years, and received the degree of Phi. ID.
from the University Of Halle Wittenberg.