Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-05-08
Stefaasson Would
Raise Meat and
Wool II Far North


Of Canada Into a great wool, mix ana
meat producing area was presented 10
the Canadian senate and house or COM
nous today by Vilhjalmur Stefansson'
Norwegian explorer OF the CANADIAN
Arctic. Nstp.
Mr. Stefs nsson's IDEAS recently were
placed before Arthur Meighen, MINIS
ter Of the interior, whose department
administers the natural resources Oh
the north. and II was thought advis-
able to nave the explorer address par
lament, --
His project Involves introducing
large herds OF reindeer and domesu-
eating and developing. great herds o.
musk OK. Both animals would furnish
milk and meat supplies, and the musk
OK would afford also a wool supply.
Will Develop Mining.
The Canadian north, Mr.. Stetansson
said. could be utilized to help solve
present and future food shortages, and
development of his project would ex-
pedite opening of mineral and other
resources of the north.
He estimated there were from L.
600. 900 TO 100000 square miles OF land
available for cattle, but where rain
deer and musk OK could exist the year
round. He continued:
About twenty years ago the Am
erican government introduced 1,2sO
domestic reindeer into Arctic Alaska.
From the point of view OF the govern
ment this was sort of charity. for
the sole aim was TO give a possibility
OF economic independence to the Es-
kimo.
THE prevailing opinion was that
even this object would not be attained,
and few of those who expected the
enterprise 10 succeed even dreamed OF
its present magnitude, or the meaning
it would have for Alaska today or for
the world tomorrow.
Whites Beat Eskimos.
Under Eskimo care these herds
have increased at the rate of doubling
in three years. But the few animals
that arc in the hands of white men are
found to double in numbers every two
years The white men look further
into the future, and. therefore, butcher
only male animals. The Eskimo butch
er females each year for reasons OF
fashion in clothing.
When the American government
gave reindeer to the Eskimo it made
each Eskimo promise he would not sell
a female reindeer at any time to u
white man, the object being merely
to promote the economic welfare of
the Eskimo.
But it was found necessary to Sc
cure Laplanders to instruct the Es-
kino il the care of deer. and these
Laplanders were by the government
allowed to own reindeer herds on the
same terms as the natives.
Forgot to Guard Rights.
The government overlooked to bind
the Laplanders as they bound the Es-
kimo and these Laplanders have,
therefore. recently sold practically all
their reindeer to a firm of American
capitalists who own at present $4,000
deer. =
This company sold about 1900
carcasses OF $50 pounds each on the
American markets last year at price
ranging from to 10 cents a pound in
excess of the corresponding cuts OF
domestic beef reE
There is in England well estab-
lished market for reiudeer meat for
there it has been imported for many
years from northern Norway and 10C
carcasses of Alaska reindeer were this
year sold ir London at price of about
half a shilling a pound in excess of
beef"
Possibilities Of Plan. >,
In due time, Mr.. Stefansson said.
Arctic Alaska will support more than
100000 reindeer producing as much
meat yearly as 100000 sheep, OF
seven times the present mutton pro-
duction OF all the settled portion of
Canada.
The Americans now realize, he stat
ed, that they had made a mistake in
starting the industry on such a small
scale, and he warned that Canada
should not make the same mistake.
The explorer said he had talked with
Canadian railway authorities and that
they saw no transportation difficulties
which forbade Canada's development
of the reindeer and musk OK industry.
While it was curious" that 1.-The
whole world should be as densely ig-
norant as it is of the climate and re-
sources Of the NORTH he said, 1t was
'deplorable that Canadians generally
should share in the same impression. u
Valuable to Canada.
If Canada develops reindeer and
musk OK on a large scale, the explorer
concluded. we shall within the next
twenty five years convert northern
Canada from land Of practically no
Valueto the great permanent wool and
milk and meat producing country OF
the western hemisphere" adding:
When the rest Of the world has
ceased to produce considerable guam
titles Of meat and wool because Of the
greater profit to be obtained from
cereals and orchards, this belt Of the
world will attain an importance un-
realized today if we continue to be
eaters of mutton and wearers Of wool
ri