DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 1G3 



Chicago, III., January 18 t 1894. 

 Dr. Sheldon Jackson, 



Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C: 



Having recovered from an illness (a cold), which lasted six weeks, I herewith, in 

 reference to your letter of January 5, forward the following information: 1 was 

 born and educated in the northern province of Sweden, Norrhotten (Lapland), and 

 resided there until the year 1889. 



I am 39 years of age, an unmarried man, and a total abstainer from alcoholic drinks. 



I am a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and do not belong to any other 

 sect. 



I am hearty ami strung in body and have been sick only twice within the last 

 twenty years. 



As mentioned in my former letter, I am fully acquainted with reindeex breeding 

 and management, partly because I grew up among people used to that occupation and 

 partly because I, for ten years, performed the functions of a Crown liegeman of some 

 of Sweden's largest Lapland districts, and thus was in constant intercourse with Lap- 

 landers. I naturally became acquainted with the principal occupation and resources 

 of the inhabitants. 



In regard to my ability in the line as a superintendent (overseer) I can refer yon 

 to two Swedish Government officials, namely: The director-general, Lars Berg, in 

 Stockholm, and the lord-lieutenant, (Landshofdhigen) K. S. Husberg, Lulea, Norr- 

 botten, who both will be pleased to recommend me for the position if inquiries 

 should be made. 



For the furtherance and interests of reindeer introduction into Alaska it would be 

 advisable to engage true Nomades, i. e., Laplanders, and of these from 1 to 8 persons 

 for each 500 reindeer, until the whole enterprise has been established satisfactorily. 

 ( »ne overseer would be necessary to supervise and examine the different herds and 

 posts, to keep account of the number of animals, their marking, if such a thing is 

 required, and to keep the books, accounts, and carry on the correspondence, etc. 



The supervisor ought to have $100 per month as salary. 



There being dissatisfaction and depression among the Laplanders in "Sweden at 

 present, it would no doubt be an easy matter to persuade some to come to Alaska 

 and take charge of the reindeer as herdsmen. 



WlLHELM BeUGSTKOM. 



(161 Randolph street, (room 54) Chicago, 111.) 



Seattle, Wash., January ID, 1S94. 



HONORED Sir: Your valuable report to Congress I have read and take this occa- 

 sion to very respectfully advance a few remarks and hints on this subject, demon 

 Btrating how the reindeer raising and traffic is carried on in the most northern 

 regions of Norway and Russia. 



Every mountaineer Laplander is at the same time a fisherman, i. e., from the 

 springtime aft. r the reindeer are driven to the seacoasl until the fall when they 

 are gathered iuto herds for marking, shearing, assorting, etc., and then again 

 driven back upon the mountainous moss-fields, they have boats and fishing imple- 

 ments of their own. The fish they catch are principally cod-fish, salmons, halibuts, 

 etc. In the spring and fall they dry the fish which later on are sold to merchants 

 who ship them to Italy, Spain, and China, partly America and Russia. Luring the 

 summer these fish are sold in an unprepared condition to the Russians who salt 

 them on board their vessels and transport them to cities lying along t he shores of 

 the White Sea. In the fall before the fisheries are closed, they salt ami dry fish 

 enough for domestic necessaries until the next spring, and store them in the houses 



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*On account of a new law, 



