Seward daily gateway., 1931-10-31
SOLUTION OF THE REINDEER PROBLEM


 The Indian Bureau has total of 343,0O0 reindeer on it's hands and is seeking way for dsposng of large portion of them These represent deer owned by natives In addition there are 82000 animals owned jointly by whites and natives exclusive of 8 6O owned by large reindeer corporation.
 Figures compiled by the Bureau set these deer down worth $500 per head that being the price received by the natives when dsposng of them to the company now havngs practically the only marketing facilities in the reindeer country The only agency through which native deer may be marketed is the Bureau of Education ship Boxer capable of handling approximately 700 carcasses and like the company these may be shipped only in mer between the time when the ice in Boring Sea opens up and closes in.
 It is we'll known fact that in Norway and Sweden, smoked reindeer meat and smoked reindeer tongues are everywhere available in the markets the former at 10 cents per pound and the latter at 10 cents apiece There are wealthy merchants in these countries who deal ex clusvey in reindeer products Reindeer skins are sold at from $150 to each and used for gloves, riding trousers and for binding books As the hndquarters of
 reindeer will average 50 pounds in weight (being that portion smoked for markeD this gives value of S760 per deer The meat in the United States would bring double that amount and the skins in proportion Thus have market of approximately S15 per deerif they could reach it.
 The key to the situation is The Alaska Railroad For several years the question of utilizing the railroad as an outlet has been discussed and surveys of for dv ing the deer from the ranges to the railroad have been made The wonder is that the plan not carried thru It had the endorsaon of the deer men, who willing to make the drive The plan called for holding the deer in large corral to allow them recuperae from the drive butcher them and ship them in prime condition to the markets of the United States.
 Experimentation with various feeds show that the reindeer is not popuary believed purely moss eating an1a 1t will eat anything that goat wi likes grain and hay and its moss diet is simply expedency of na ture where no other vegetation is available
 It IS estimated that a revenue of S1OOOOO annually would be given to the railroad and industries that wod nave marked effect upon all lines of business which could be developed here if these deer were shipped to this point butchered and prepared for market It would bring tanner1es glue factories, cold storage packing houses where the meat could be prepared in its every sage from smoking to canning, and thereby relieve the Indian Bu rea of an annual appropriation of $486O0O for admins terlng native deer represented in the 93O budget The native would have something like $8OOOOO to spend for necessties>of life.
 It is estimated that there range sufficient to accom- modate 100000 deer and this not including such prom 1sng regions as the Kenai Peninsula Transferrence of deer to the railroad would make it possible for many per- sons to acquire herds which could be ranged in this vcn 3ty and have ready market the year around Those who have explored the region pronounce it capable of sustain ing large herds.
 Modern girls may not be food experts but they know their applesauce and bologna
 Men put off things they ought to do and women put off things they ought to wear
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