Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-08-02
A New Source of Meat.

~ NOW SOuESC VI VACoSs
Many people have worried over the
vanishing meat supply Of the United
States. The high price and shortage OF
meat have induced many Maine farmers
to 60 into business that was once good,
but which the opening of the West de-
stroyed. There has opened in recent
years an unexpected source of meat sup
ply, which, perhaps, may be matter Of
curiosity to Oxford County farmers even
If 1t is considered competitive. It is the
reindeer industry of Alaska.
So gradual has been the development
of this industry in Alaska that ompara-
lively few Americans, except those liv-
ing In Oregon and Washington and GER
tain government officials at Washington,
D. c., are aware of its present and pro.
spective magnitude.
This potential industry is q monument
to the foresight and big-heartedness of
the late DR.. Sheldon jackson, the famous
Alaskan missionary. In 1892, DR.. Jack
son realized that as result of the rapid
encroachment of white men in the realm
Of hunting and fishing, all game and seal
and walrus would soon be depleted, and
the native Eskimos and Indians would ul-
timately be starved out, and such races
become extinct. Under the direction OF
the bureau of education, branch of the
Interior Department of the United States
government, DR.. Jackson was given au-
thority to import reindeer from Siberia,
which at one place Ia only forty-one miles
across Behriug Strait from the western
coast Of Alaska. On clear days 1t is an
easy matter to see from one coast to the
other. The doctors efforts along that
line for the ensuing ten years are mira
Gle of business and experimental romance
OF remarkable interest.
During 1892, he managed, through all
sorts of strange adventures, to transport
III reindeer across the strait to Alaska.
During the next ten years total OF l ,2S0
reindeer were brought over. That ended
the importations from Siberia. From
that modest beginning, the reindeer
herds of Alaska have increased up to the
present time to 100000 head. In addi-
tion to this present number Of animals,
80, 900 have been slaughtered from year
to year for food and clothing purposes,
making total production of 100000
head.
When DR.. Jackson made his first trip
to Siberia to negotiate for the purchase
of the animals, he found that the natives
knew absolutely nothing about the coin
of the realm, and were only willing to
trade their reindeer for certain articles
of every day use. he consequently had
to return to the United States and take
on q cargo of bright.hued cotton goods,
rifles, cartridges, -four, bar lead for max
ing bullets, several buckets OF candy for
the little boys and girls, and an abun-
dance of ship biscuit. The latter srti-
Gle soon became commonly known as the
"small change" of the arctic country,
being looked upon as the equivalent of
pennies and nickels. The value of the
goods traded averaged three dollars for
each reindeer obtained. In the light OF
subsequent developments 1t would seem
as though DR.. Jackson had driven bar
gain that some day might eclipse that
famous purchase of Manhattan Island
from the Indians for two ten dollar bills.
Up to the present time the United
States government has invested $4,000
in the reindeer business 10 Alaska. Div
idepds aggregatipg 926 per cent have
been netted on this investment. The
total valuation and income from reindeer
ia $3, PAT ,S45, leaving q net profit of $2,.
CSC, O,345, after the bureau of education
deducts it's total investment of $317,00
The original object of the importation
was to furnish q permanent source OF
supply for food and clothing for the no.
madic hunters and fishermen, In the vi
cinity of the Behring Strait, who were
eking out precarious existence upon
the rapidly disappearing game animals
and fish. But far more than that has
been accomplished. Within less than .
generation the reindeer industry has
caused all of the Eskimos inhabiting the
vast grazing lands from Point Barrow to
Aleutian Islands to advance through one
entire stage OF civilization. It has raised
them from the primitive to the pastoral
stage; from nomadic hunters to civilized
men and women, having in their herds
of reindeer assured support for them.
selves and opportunity to accumulate
wealth.
The reindeer Is essentially an inbab-
liant of snowy countries, feeding on H.
chens or moss, mushrooms, grass and
willow sprouts, which grow even on the
poorest soils. 1t never makes any differ.
ence to the reindeer how much snow
may be on the ground. Whenever bis
appetite begins to assert itself, he merely
drops aside from the beaten path aud
paws through the snow until the appe-
tizing moss is found. 1t is this chsrac-
teristic of the reindeer which makes him
the peer Of all animals susceptible of do
mestication and used for human food.
All others need food and shelter.
The coming of the reindeer to Alaska
has developed new and exciting sport
among the natives. 1t is reindeer racing
Sleek llmbed animals are petted and ten.
derry cared for just as thoroughbred
Kentucky horses are looked after In the
old states. The public races are staged
at the annual country fairs, and give the
owners something to look forward to for
montha