158 REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OF 



must bring some dogs along. These men can be bad. for $200 a year; accordingly 

 $800 for i Laplanders, besides traveling expenses for them and family and for the 

 dogs. There ought to be 6 dogs of both sexes, since the reindeer have to be closely 

 watched by night and day with dogs and rifles. 



Hereto must be added winter tents and cooking utensils, skies (skates), pulkhas 

 (a Laplander's traveling sleighs), and traveling implements and tools, which they 

 can manufacture themselves. The State ought to provide for shooting utensils, 

 food, and clothing to begin with. I have a son in Finmark, 26 years of age, who is 

 married and the father of 6 children, with a strong physique like I, who perhaps would 

 like to take the place if you think that I am too old, which I hardly think is the 

 case. In Everett I have a brother, 18 years younger than I, who perhaps also will 

 write to you in this matter. I do not consider it necessary to cross the ocean in 

 order to make arrangements for the undertaking. I have relations and friends who 

 can attend to the affairs. However, if you, in order to save time, wish me to go I 

 will undertake the journey, with the conditions that my salary be paid from the 

 date of my departure, besides the traveling expenses. I take a great interest in the 

 matter, as it is so highly important a question for Alaska, and whether you engage 

 me or not as superintendent or director I shall always be at your service with good 

 and practical advice, if you desire so. 



Very respectfully, yours, 



H. Dahl, Dr. 



Red Wing, Minn., December 28, 1893. 

 Dr. Sheldon Jackson, 



Bureau of Education: 

 In the Swedish Minneapolis Weckoblad I read the following advertisement: 



From the pure standpoint of civilization and in the interest of our Swedish mis- 

 sion in Alaska I have with special attention observed this announcement of the 

 Department of the Interior in Washington. Prompted by the same and for the sake 

 of the object itself I take the liberty to very respectfully address my views on the 

 subject to you. 



Through repeated travels in the northern provinces of Sweden I have come in 

 constant contact witli the Laplanders aud had the opportunity to study not only the 

 customs of these people but also their breeding of reindeer, which is the most impor- 

 tant source of livelihood for the Laplanders. I thus learned to understand that this 

 occupation is a very difficult one, requiring great physical strength and endurance. 



On account of the nature and instincts of the reindeer the life of their owner is 

 subjected to all the dangers and toils of a nomad. Experience shows that the rein- 

 deer can not, with advantage to the owners, be forced, like a horse or cattle, to 

 remain upon one and the same place; he must, led by natural instincts, roain 

 about from place to place and forces the owner to a continual change of abode. 

 Facts show that resident families never, with auy advantage, could bring 

 up or keep reindeer, and the resident reindeer owners therefore always give 

 them over to the care of nomad, or so-called "rein-Laplanders," who, for a small 

 compensation, take charge of them. In the true interest for the introduction of 

 reindeer in Alaska I therefore set forth my views and experience, and wish to say 

 that, for the sake of obtaining satisfactory results, it is desirable in the under- 

 taking that only Laplanders should be engaged for the execution of the work in 

 question. It is also a common fact that Laplanders who become used to the life of 

 resident inhabitants refuse to or are unwilling to continue the ways of living of 

 the true reindeer herdsmen; indeed, they seem to lose their faculties for the toilsome 

 labors .ind life of the tribes who are accustomed to it. In the real interests of the 

 aim in view and from an economical standpoint therefore it would bo advisable to 



