The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-09

the government throughout the terri tory are in charge of men who in addi- tion to teaching the three "R's," are required to minister to the sick, con- duct cooperative stores, settle quar- rels, establish community centres, manage entertainments, sing Christ mas carols, conduct classes in garden ing, teach sewing, and in emergencies, drive dog teams.
 The annual reports sent by these teachers to the Bureau of Education in Washington narrate experiences that would deter timid persons from seeking the job. Entire villages the adults included, come in con- tact with the school and enjoy its benefits. Frequently the teachers are the only white persons in the na- | tive communities, and the natives. | therefore, naturally look to them for | guidance, counsel and assistance. In addition to the Schoolroom du- | ties the teachers devote themselves to settlement" work, and by prac- teal advice and example improve the modes of living of their villagers. The 1 teachers in this service must, there fore, not only possess pedagogical i ability, but must be all-around prac- tical men who can be of service to 1 the entire community. Each school | is also provided with a well-selected assortment of medicines with which l tc alleviate the minor ailments and sufferings of the people. The more medical knowledge a teacher pos sesses the more effective is this i'm i portant phase of the work.
 l There are at present ten native CO., 1 operative store companies in Alaska whose local affairs are supervised and the books kept by teachers located at the places where the stores are main tained. Two of them have sawmills with which they produce lumber for local use and wherever a market may be had. By an adequate accounting system which makes possible definite statements in regard to business these native companies are of invaluable educational benefit to the native stockholders. They are uniformly successful and are credit to the na- lives, having been capitalized with their own money and credit received from Seattle wholesale houses, and are managed entirely by themselves except for the advice and oversight of the teachers.
 According to the report sent in by Will A. Wilson teacher in the gov ernment school at Ugashik, on the Alaska Peninsula, he spent a large ing medical work, during which he
 
 says:
 2,O7O Miles in Dog Sled.
 During the winter I travelled by dog team as follows: To Nushagak and return, for medicine, 570 miles; to and from Naknek, taking chold to pr. Borland, 24O miles; to Uguguk and return, to treat a fractured leg, 120 miles; .thirty-siX trips to the up per village and return, medical calls, 1,0S0 miles; trip to reindeer herd and return to. treat frozen boy, sixty miles; total, 2,070 miles, There is no fund for this expense and if I had had to hire a team it would have cost $517.50 for dogs, sled, and driv- CT, besides provisions and dog feed. own my own team, which cost me $40 and used during the year B. 1855 fish, valued at s2S8.95. Of these fish I caught and dried 1,70O myself during my last summers vacation. "On one trip I was caught in a blizzard and spent two days and three nights in a tent, without any stove or provisions. I had two native men with me and gave each of them a
 fish, took one myself ,and kept the rest for the dogs. It was a, trip we
 should have made in day as I took only tent, medicine, and dog feed; it was an urgent case, and I felt that we could make the sixty miles in i one day. It looked fine when wa started, but when we were out about three hours the blizzard struck us sc hard that we could not see. I would I have perished on that trip had it not been for the natives and the anima heat from the dogs. The native: furnished the common sense and tn; dogs the heat. On the third da! r we started again, although it wa
 still unfit to travel, but we made { d trapper's camp, where we found foot II and shelter, but we were all in.' S' While MT. Wilson was away ol e these Journeys of mercy his wifi I taught school, although she was no
 under government pay.
 I, Charles N. Replogle, the govern r ment teacher at Norvik, which is i ,s Arctic Alaska, is required to make
 study of the reindeer industry in addi
 tion to his hundred and one othe r duties. His report says:
 Thanks to the reindeer, the pro s. gross of the people is assured. Wit S. the meat for food the skin fo in clothing, harness, and leather, tn k s:new for thread, the horns for knif l. the reindeer is a marvellous anime Ie for this country. The institution ( e. the fairs has brought about a hvel Id interest in the reindeer business. A
 most every family now owns dee e. Cooperation is obtained, which is s .n necessary in the propagation an s, marketing of reindeer.
 lg The fair has made the reinde5
 man specialist; he studies his pro
 fession and he is better fitted for h ed work than other men who are not ,n the business. This is a great ste s. forward for the native. The reir
 deer man is no longer a hunter, ifs. - erman, trapper. carpenter or miner
 l3e is a man versed in one good bus
 ness. Not all herders have as ye
 attained to this stage, but they mu.
 do 1t or soon be out of the bushes
 The two fairs held in this distric