Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-30

is the time he will open his heart, relate
to you the history of his family, give
you the list of all the ailments and sick
nesses that have visited them since the
father was a child, with the exact date
of each one. and he will finally unburden
his troubles to you, relating them with
facility born of long brooding. This is
the time when q teacher must stand or
fall so far regards his influence
among the older Indians. At times it
almost requires the wisdom OF Solomon
Family quarrels. differences with white
men and a host of other problems he
brings to US for settlement.
TN some of the most insantary villages
in Alaska the conditions are appalling.
said the commissioner. What are usual
~ called homes are really nothing more
eral families, ranging from eight to six
teen people. and used as kitchen. bed
room and living room. The stove is kept
red hot and the temperature of the room
is far too high for the promotion of
health. Windows are few and are used to
admit light only They are always kept
carefully plugged with rags and tightly
nailed to exclude all cold a.d. Doors
which are considered necessary evils for
ingress and egress are small and some
times so low that short person bends
nearly double to enter. The beds are
wooden. Piled on top of these wooden
frames are the much priced feather beds,
which have been carried in their bidarkas
from their winter camps to their sum
ner camps and vice versa for many
years. Skins of all kinds. unused or cast
off wearing apparel and gunny sacks are
used as bed covering"
Uncle Sans efforts with the natives at
Kake Alaska. have shown encouraging
results. Here it seems both the men and
women are very Industrious. TIE work
Of the women along the line Of the ma
tive arts and crafts is especially good
When it is compared with that done
by other native women it stands Out
for its neatness, eXactness and tleanli-
ness. The skins they tan and prepare
for their use in making moccasins and
other curios, and those they care for
after being trapped. such as mink, otter,
etc, show they realize the market value
is increased according to the quality OF
the work they do. From the sale of
curos, including moCcasins and baskets,
these natives realized more than 5000
last year.
In addition to the work of educating the
natives. novel and promising industry
has been introduced into Alaska by Uncle
SaIn-the reindeer service. This industry
was started in 1892 with the importation
of 172 reindeer from Siberia. The govern
ment continued to import reindeer until
1902, when total of 1.2S0 had been
brought from Siberia. From this small
beginning the enterprise has grown UNI
til it now includes forty-tWo herds, oper-
ated from thirty-one stations. with a total
of 1926 reindeer. representing a capital
of more than $6S0.uo
The idea of the government in the
establishment of this industry is to dis
tribute the reindeer among the villages
as rapidly as the natives can be trained,
by means of a system Of Apprenticeship
to care for and use the reindeer. The
enterprise is practically now upon self
supporting basis.
At each station throughout Alaska
promising and ambitious young natives
are selected for term of four years.
At the end of the first year. if the ap-
prentice shows proper aptitude. he receives
six reindeer for his can use. At the
end of the second year he receives eight
more. the third year. ten more. and the
fourth year. ten more. making a total OF
thirty-four reindeer. Providing his four
years have proven satisfactory. he then
becomes a herder and assumes entire
charge of his herd The only exchange
Uncle Sam asks for all this Is that the
herder must in turn employ and reward
apprentices, thus becoming an additional
factor In the extension of the enterprise.
A native may also acquire reindeer
by purchase. Taking advantage or
this opportunity. many natives of
northern Alaska invest their savings
in the purchase of reindeer from other
natives. He may also receive re ndeer
in return for services rendered In con-
nection with the Alaska reindeer serv-
ice or tho Alaska school service. In
all cases the native purchasing or re-
ceiving reindeer must agree in writ
ing to make proper provision for the
care of the reindeer acquired by him.
Reindeer meat and skins for cloth
ing are in great demand in the towns
and mining camps of northern Alaska.
The total income of the Eskinos from
the reindeer industry during the year
1909, including salaries earned by
service in connection with the herds