The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-07
STEFANSSON SEES
Big ARCTIC FUTURE
Presents Plan tOConvert North
Into Wool and Meat Pro-
ducing Area.
URGES REINDEER HERDS
Explorer Addresses Canadian
Parliament and Discusses
American Venture.
URGES REINDEER HERDS

OTTAWA. May "a plan for convert |
ing the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions OF
Canada into a great wool. milk and
meat producing area was presented to
tho Canadian Senate and House Of
Commons to-day by vilhjalmur Stefans-
son. Norwegian explorer Of the Canadian
Arctic.
Mr.. stefansson's ide,s were recently
placed before Arthur Meighen. Minister
Of the Interior. whose department sd-
ministers the natural resources Of the
| north, and 1t was thought advisable to
have the explorer address Parliament.
His project involves introducing largo
herds OF reindeer and DEMONSTRATING and
developing great herds Of musk OK. Both
animals would furnish milk and meat
supplies, and the musk OK would AFFORD
also a wool supply
The Canadian north. Mr.. Stefansson
| said. could be utilized to help solve
present and future food shortages, and
development Of his project would ex-
| pedlte opening of mineral and other re-
sources of tho north He estimated there
were from 100000 to 2,000.0o0 square
| miles of land available for grazing in a
| climate too severe for cattle. but where
reindeer and musk OK could exist the
year round.
| About twenty years ago." Mr.
Stefansson continued. "the American
Government introduced 1850 domestic
reindeer into Arctic Alaska From the
point Of view Of tho Government this
was a sort of charity. for the sole aim
was to give n possibility OF economic
| independence to the EskimO.
| when the American Government
| gave reindeer to the Eskimo they made
each Eskimo promise he would not sell
a female reindeer at any time to
white man. the object being merely to
promote the economic welfare of the
Eskimo. But It was found necessary
to secure Laplanders to instruct tho
Eskimo in the care Of deer. and these
Laplanders were by the Government al
lowed to own reindeer herds on the same
| terms as the natives.
| The Government overlooked to bind
| the Laplanders as they bound the Es-
k!mo. and these Lapianders have, there
| fore. recently sold practically all their
| reindeer to a Arm OF American capital
| lists. who own at present about $4,000
deer. This company sold about 1900
carcasses Of $50 pounds each on the
American markets last year at a price
| ranging from to IS cents q pound in
excess Of the corresponding outs OF do
este beef"
In due time. Mr.. Stefansson said.
Arctic Alaska will support moro than
100000 reindeer. producing as much
meat yearly as 100000 sheep. or
seven times the present mutton produc-
| ton Of all tho settled portion Of Canada.
| The Americans now realised. he de-
clared. that they had made n mistake
In starting the industry on such a small
scale. and he warned that Canada
| should not make the same mistake.
| II Canada develops reindeer and musk
OK on q large scale, the explorer con-
| cluded, I'VE shall within the next
twenty-five years convert northern
Canada from a land of practically no
value to 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 Quanti-
ties Of meat and wool because Of the
| greater profit to be obtained for cereals
and orchards this belt OF the world will
attain an Importance unrealized to-day
II we continue TO be eaters of butter and
the wearers OF woolien clothes