The Cordova daily times., 1920-11-05
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 5, 1920.
REINDEER FARMS

We have just seen a despatch which states that the famous Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson is in Eastern Canada now perfecting plans for the establishment of a vast rein deer ranch some where in the north He has just returned from England, where he is said to have obtained all the necessary capital MT. Stef- ansson is enthusiastic in the belief that the barren lands of the north will furnish all the meat for North time.
 Of the many great industries which are sure in the near future of Alaska, is this one of raising rein deer to compete With beef. The meat is as edible as beef according to those who have eaten it, and some claim that it is even more palatable Its food qualities have been proven beyond a doubt, and no argument on that score need be advanced. The other questions of the speed of in- crease; the area of the grazing land; the amount of care required i; and the markets for the meat are now answered.
 The growth of the reindeer herds in Alaska during the past 10 years has demonstrated that the increase is even, if not better, than cattle :; and even the limited surveys al ready show that reindeer-moss flour. ishes over sufficient territory to support millions of head The recent report of Mir Lopp that a vast area of land adjoining the government railway in the Broad Pass region is suitable for reindeer grazing, adds to the known lands to the west and north. As Seward must be the ship ping port for the meat there will be great cold storage warehouses here. Undoubtedly the slaughter ing time will be in the late fall just as the snow gets deeb and the weather steadily below the freezing point. The reindeer will be driven to the railroad, killed and shipped by train load to Seward, where it will be sorted and stored in the warehouses to await the cold storage ships. Transportation of the meat was the chief drawback heretofore, but now that the lands near the railroad are declared perfect for the range of great herds, the last objec- tion to engaging in the industry has been removed, and it is up to our enterprising citizens to get in on the ground floor of the meat business.
 Think of the vast fortunes made from the cattle ranges of the middle western states by those who began in a small way when the business was young. Many man who start ed with dozen head of cattle is now millionaire. Here is a chance to do the same thing in an enor- nous virgin country. From the ease with which the natives tend their herds it is seen to be a simple matter; all the owner has to do is to keep track of them on the grazing fields while they multiply his for tune. Not a native, or white, who has invested in reindeer has lost anything, as the hariness of the ami nal seems to have removed all chances in the game.
 It seems to us that this meat busi. ness should bring a better and quick CT return than agriculture, and gives an unlimited chance for expansion. The country is ripe for the "cattle- man," and it will be 50 or 100 years before the farmer begins to crowd him out as has happened in the states during the past 30 years. Here, the herdsman doesn't need even a dog or horse; nothing but a camping outfit which he can pack around on the reindeer's backs; and he need not kill his own deer for his own use as the. country provides