REINDEER IN ALASKA. fU9 



IMPOKTANrK OF IJEIXDEEK T<^ MISSION STATIONS. 



The Huivau of Kducation h()p(\s that in time oacii mission station will 

 possess a herd of at least 5,(i(>() head. A reindeer herd at a mission 

 station in arctic or sul)arctic Alaska means, says Dr. Jackson: 



'"First. The permanence^ of th(^ mission. Without it the natives 

 are away from home a laroer portion of the year in search of food, 

 and, since the ad\ent of the miners, are inclined to leave their homes 

 and congreoate in the American villages at the mines, where they live 

 by begging" and immorality and soon disap|)ear from the face of the 

 earth. 



"Second. It ati'ords the missionary the opportunity of rewarding 

 and encouraging those families that give evidence of being teachable 

 by establisliing them in the reindeer industry, and thus greatly pro- 

 moting their material interests. 



"Third. With the increase of the herd it ))ecomes a source of reve- 

 nue through the sale of the surplus males at remunerative prices to 

 the miners and butchers. In a few years this revenue should be suf- 

 ficient to entirely support the mission and thereby relieve the treasury 

 of the central missionary society. 



"Fourth. The possession of a herd insures to the mission family 

 a continuous supply of fresh meat. This, to a family which is com- 

 pelled to li\e largely upon salted and canned meats and caimed vege- 

 tables, is of no small benetit, promoting their comfort, health, and 

 usefulness. 



"Fifth. Reindeer trained to harness and sleds greatly increase the 

 efficienc}" and the comfort of the missionary in ministei'ing to outlying- 

 native settlements."' 



REINDEER FROM EAEEAND. 



The vast majority of the American people have an idea that the 

 reindeer exi)eriment in Alaska provi^l a failure long ago, simply 

 because of the widely advertised attempt in 1S!»S. 



In December, 1897, rumors were started that American miners in 

 the Yukon ^"allev were in danger of starvation. Congress appropri- 

 ated a large sum for their relief, and commissioiKKl Dr. Sheldon Jack- 

 son to go to Norway and Sweden to yjurchase r)(>0 rcMiideer broken to 

 the harness, with sleds, harness, and drivers, foi- hauling supplies from 

 the head of Lynn Canal to the d(\stitute minei's. l,(i(i(i miles away. 



Dr. Jackson reached Bosekop, Lapland, in January, purchased Hiiti 

 trained deer, gathered 08 Lapp drivers with theii- families, emt)arked 

 them all on one ship, and sailed for New York from Trondhjem Fel)- 

 ruary 4. Only oik^ deer died on the voyage of tw(Mity-four days, 

 though the trip was a most tempestuous one, and the (h'ci- in jxmis on 

 the deck were drenched day and night b^^ the seas that brok(^ over 

 them. At New York special trains met i\w expedition and carried 

 them across the continent to Seattle without th(^ loss of a single deer. 

 Then the troubles began. The supply of moss I)rought from Norway 

 became exhaust,ed; and the deer did not like the grass of Seattle. There 



