The Cordova daily times., 1919-02-07
HOW REINDEER INDUSTRY IN
 NORTH BEGAN

On December g, 1897, resolution was introduced in congress looking to the relief of the people in the Alaska gold fields who were reported to be in a starving condition and in need of government aid. On Dec. IS, 1897, the bill passed and became a law. The bill authorized the secre- tary of war to purchase and import reindeer into the territory and bring and import drivers and caretakers, not citizens of the United States, into the country. In pursuance of this act, and by an arrangement with the de- partment of the interior, Dr. Sheldon Jackson, an agent of that department, was instructed to proceed to Norway and Sweden to purchase 500 reindeer, with sleds, harness and drivers, and bring the same to the United States as soon as possible. Lieutenant D.. V. Decore, U. s. A., accompanied Dr.. Jackson as disbursing agent of the expedition.
 The expedition landed in New York on the steamship Manitoban, Feb. 27, 1898, with 113 immigrants, 53S head of reindeer, AIS sleds, All sets of har- ness and large quantity of reindeer ment a contract was let to the Penn sylvania Railroad Company to trans port the expedition to Seattle, Wash, fo~ $10,418.75. The reindeer train ar rived at Seattle on March 2, 1898, without accident or loss, the animals being in excellent condition, the run across the continent having been made on passenger train schedule.
 On March 10, 1898, the secretary of the interior transmitted to the secre- tcry of war a communication in which he stated that he had directed Dr. Sheldon Jackson to proceed at once to Dyea to confer with Captain Ray, in charge of the relief expedition, Tn
 
 337 head of reindeer to be sent by way of Lynn canal, across the Dalton train to Circle City. Dr. Jackson was also instructed to go Circle City and secure suitable pasture for the animals until the following May, when, in accordance with an under standing with the secretary of war, tkey were to be turned over to Dr. Jackson as the agent of the depart ment of the interior. It was under stood on the part of the secretary of the interior that the war department was to be in charge of the transporta- ton of the animals until they were delivered to Dr. Jackson in May. Fifty of the 337 head were to be turned over to the departments representa- tive until the middle of April, 1898. The last named number of animals were intended for use by the United States Geological Survey on it's trip over the Dalton trail to a point near Circle City, in Alaska. By an un- derstanding with the war department subsistence was to be furnished by that department for the reindeer at tendants for at least one year. It ywco further understood that the trav- cling expenses and subsistence of Dr. Jackson while engaged in this duty were to be paid out of the relief fund. Dr. Jackson was subsequently de titled for the duties above named, with definite instructions as to the duties he was to perform.
 In the meantime Lieutenant (now GeneraD Richardson, later head or the road commission, was detailed to investigate conditions along the Yu- kon, and reported that while there was a shortage of provisions there were no cases of actual want lie communicated the stores of the Alaska Commercial Company and the Northern Commercial Company and furnished the destitute miners provl- sions, taking notes from them for the amount, which were sent in to the department for future collection.
 Subsequently the secretary of the interior reached the conclusion that 1t would be better after the expedi- tion reached Haines that the 337 head of deer be turned over to Dr. Jack son at once, who would be responsible for their safe delivery at Circle. On March 16, 1898, the assistant secre- tary of war, G. D. Meikle1ohn, in formed the secretary of the interior that he had no authority from the war department to pay the travelling expenses and subsistence of Dr. Jack son from the fund heretofore named after the animals should have been delivered at Pyramid Harbor or Haines Mission, as his connectionwith the war department would then cease and he would become the agent Of +ha dano,%Yart of tho fntorior The