DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 155 



CIRCULAR LETTER SENT TO THE SCANDINAVIAN NEWSPAPERS IN THE 



UNITED STATES. 



Department of the Interior, 

 Bureau of Km cation, Alaska Division, 

 Washington, J>. C, December U, I 



To the Editor: 



As you have access to the Scandinavian and Lapland population in the United 

 States and Canada you will confer a favor by publishing the following- notice, in 

 your journal. 



Very respectfully, yours, 



Sheldon Jackson, 

 U. S. General Agent of Education in Alaska. 



HEX W A XT ED TO TAKE CHARGE <>F REINDEER IX ALASKA. 



Iu the introduction of domesticated reindeer into northern Alaska a few men are 

 wanted who have had practical experience in the herding and management of rein- 

 deer. 



If any reader knows of a Laplander iu the United States or Canada who has been 

 brought up to the care of reiudeer, and who would like to go to Alaska to take 

 charge of reindeer, please communicate his name anil address to Dr. Sheldon Jack- 

 son, Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C. Also state condition of health, age, 

 experience with reindeer, and wages asked. 



No. 1205 Pine Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 



December 18, 1S9S. 



Dear Sir: Your favor of the 13th addressed to Chicago came into my hands 

 only to-day. 



I am very sorry I have not been able to do anything for you. In Chicago I tried 

 to see the Norwegian manager of the Laplanders' exhibition at the Fair, but I never 

 succeeded. I wrote him then a letter, and mentioned this in a letter to you at 

 Washington, presuming you would visit Chicago on your return from Alaska. 



For reasons earlier mentioned the Laplanders are afraid of going to America, and 

 they do not like to part with their trained dogs. 



You may, however, write direct to Consul Conrad Holmboe, o' Langes Gr, Chris- 

 tiania. When we met in Philadelphia last June he promised to use his influence, 

 but wrote me later from Tromsoe that he had not succeeded there. 



A steerage trip to New York from a Norway port costs probably some $25, and 

 from Lapland to such port from $6 to $10, thus, making the cost from Lapland to 

 New York about $31 to $35. I have no opinion about the wages a Laplander would 

 eventually demand; perhaps $8 to $10 a week. If anything would tempt him it 

 would be the prospect of saving some money with which he might return to his 

 mountains. The Laplanders at the Fair have probably returned long ago. I believe 

 I read something about their doing so in a Chicago paper some four or five weelia 

 since. 



