The Coolidge examiner., 1931-11-27

N
is custodian of the buffalo and other
kmzzsS wild game in the park. announced
that it would give away free to the first 100
applicants 100 bufaoes on the condition that
these animals must not be killed. but must be
used for exhibition or propagation purposes.
1t was only a few years ago that America
awoke to the fact that the buffalo had joined
the class Of vanishing Americans" and that
unless the necessary steps were taken this noble
animal would be extinct. OF the millions which
had once roamed the plains of the Great West
only pitiful remnant remained in few public
parks and in the hands of private owners In
breeding was weakening the stock and it seemed
only matter of a few years before the buffalo
must go the way of the passenger pigeon and
other birds and animals which had been ruth
lessly and wastefully slaughtered. Fortunately
however, public sentiment was aroused in time
and steps were taken which guaranteed the
preservation of the animals for the future.
This latest announcement from government
officials indicates that the buffalo no longer need
be classified as vanishing American" because
recent years have seen decided increase in the
number of buffaloes now alive Although their
numbers will never be anywhere near the num-
bers which once inhabited this continent the
protection which the government has given to
the survivors and its encouragement of their
propagation in a scientific manner may mean
that buffalo meat may again become a part of
the regular American diet
But more interesting than the possibilities sug-
gested by the increasing number of buffalo is
the action taken by the government in our great
est territory Alaska, for guaranteeing the future
meat supply of Americas millions I'D there
more than 100000 reindeer now roam the fro
zen tundraS of the north and it is estimated that
by 1885 this number will be increased to almost
IN fapt with i'm tha Iac
raising of reindeer has grown to such proper
tions that now it is second only in Importance to
the fishing industry.
Reindeer were introduced to Alaska in 1891
In that year sixteen were brought from Siberia
at the inStigation of DR.. Sheldon Jackson When
Doctor jackson was sent to Alaska by the gov
ernment to establish schools among the natives
he found his wards threatened with starvation
as result of the slaughter by white men of the
game animals on which the natives had depended
for food He conceived the idea of replacing
the fast disappearing game with reindeer, the
principal domestic animal of Lapland and ST.
IBERIA. the climate and vegetation of which re-
sembled that of Alaska
Returning to the states and unable to interest
congress in the venture. Doctor Jackson sought
contributions from the public. He obtained 50 AS
with which the first animals procured in
Siberia. At the same time Siberian herdsmen
were brought over to care for them
In 1892 $50 more reindeer were imported. Con-
gress then became mildly interested and small
appropriations made possible importations
through the next ten years until. in 1902 when
the Russian government put an embargo on fur
ther expectations from Siberia, 12S0 animals
had been taken into Alaska
The Siberian herdsmen proved incompetent as
teachers for the Eskimos, and for a time the
uit fail IF +bo
that Doctor Jackson went for advice to Prof Ras-
mus B. Anderson of Madison Wis who while
minister to Denmark had visited the reindeer
herds of Lapland. Doctor JacksOn's early inter-
est had been aroused bv a report on the industry
there made by the professor.
In pursuance of Professor Anderson's advice
Lapp herders were engaged to replace the ST.
berians as instructors to the Eskimos Each was
lent 100 animals from the government herd for
a period of years, at the end of which an equal
number of reindeer were required to be returned
TO the government. The Lapps were permitted to
retain the increase.
The EskimoS were apprenticed to the Lapps
for a period of four years At the end of the
first year each was given six reindeer at the
end of the second, eight, at the end of the third
year, ten, and ten more at the end of his fourth
year of training. With normal increases. each
mans herd would be almost 100 head by the
time he had completed his apprenticeship. He
well equipped to start in business for him
self Today, more than two-thirds of the reindeer
of Alaska are owned by natives of whom some
5000 have been trained in their care
The effect of this training on the Eskimos is
one of the most important results of the enter
prise. Within less than a generation the rein
deer industry has advanced the natives of Alaska
through entire stage of civilization-from
the primitive to the pastoral from nomadc hunt
erS to civilized men, Independent, responsible
assured of support for themselves and an oppOr
tunity to acquire wealth. They have bank ac-
counts, purchase American clothing and food