INTRODUCTIOK OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 11) 



H. E. Redmyer, also a copy of a letter to the Secretaiy of the Inte- 

 rior with regard to the replacing of the deer borrowed from Cape 

 Prince of Wales and Antisarlook hy the relief expedition. 



Kindly write letters to me at once with regard to these two matters, 

 giving your recollection as to the promises of the War Department 

 and telling me where, in 3^our files, these promises may be found. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



W. T. Harris, Cov'irivhfiionet\ 

 Dr. Sheldon Jackson, 



Occidtnt(d Hotel, Seattle, TTT/.s-A. 



May 2, 1899. 



Sir: 1 have the honor to acknowledge, by reference, a letter from 

 the honorable the Secretary of War transmitting vouchers in duplicate 

 of a claim of the Alaska Commercial Company amounting to $1,461.70, 

 certified as correct by Dr. Sheldon Jackson, for supplies furnished the 

 reindeer expedition in charge of H. E. Redmyer, and stating that said 

 reindeer were turned over to the Department of the Interior in accord- 

 ance with letter of March 10, 1898. 



I beg leave respectfully to state that Dr. Sheldon Jackson reported 

 to me that he was given to understand that the honorable the Secretary 

 of War had agreed to undertake the expenses incident to delivering 

 the remnant of the reindeer herd turned over to the Department of 

 the Interior as far as Circle City, on the upper Yukon. Besides this, 

 the entire expenses of the Lapland herdsmen and teamsters were 

 assumed by the honorable the Secretary of War for the period of a 

 year or more from March 5, 1898. Upon consulting the riles I find a 

 copy of a letter from Secretary Bliss, under date of March 10, addressed 

 to the honoralile the Secretar}^ of War, reciting his insti-uctions to Dr. 

 Jackson and stating in the last paragraph that he understands from 

 the telegram of March 5, 1898, to General Merriam that the War 

 Department has contracted to furnish sul)sistence for the reindeer 

 attendants at least for one year. I rind also accompan3"ing this letter 

 a copy of the War Department telegram of March 5, 1898, which 

 directs that such reindeer as are not sold shall be ''quartered at the 

 military camp in the American territory on the Yukon River near the 

 Canadian lioundary, or where pasture is found." "^rhis passage is 

 understood to mean the camp near Circle City, on the upper Yukon. 



It further directs that "all men without families and all men with 

 families who desire to go shall accompany the reindeer." The third 

 paragraph continues "'the Department has contracted to furnish sub- 

 sistence for the attendants for one year. You will send with attend- 

 ants of reindeer relief supplies, provisions for their sustenance until 

 they can be reached with supplies at the military camp by boat from 



