118 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



St. Mit'haol, wIkmi ])alancc of provisions for their sastenance for one 

 year will be sent them. The men remaining with the women and chil- 

 dren will 1)0 quartered in 3'our Department and rationed from the relief 

 supplies until theii" departure, when you will send the balance of their 

 y earl 3^ siil)si.stence with them to St. Michael." 



There were subsequent changes of plan in regard to the reindeer 

 herd, due to the delay in getting the reindeer to the moss pastures on 

 the upper waters of the Chilkat Riyer, and the consequent mortality in 

 the herd, but I do not think that there was any change of plan as to 

 the assumption by the War Department of the expenses incident to 

 the journey from the pasture grounds of the Chilkat Riyer to the 

 "militar}' camp in the American territory on the Yukon riyer near 

 the Canadian boundary;" in other words, the expense of the removal 

 of the herd from the Upper Chilkat to Circle City was to be assumed 

 by the War Department. This certainly has been mj understanding 

 of the matter, and had 1 supposed for a moment that the expenses of 

 the removing of the remnant of the herd to Circle City would be con- 

 sidered a charge upon the Interior Department I should have notified 

 you at once that there is no fund available from the appropriation for 

 education in Alaska to meet said expenses. 



I have written to Dr. Jackson concerning the matter and think that 

 he can recall definitely the terms proposed by the honorable the Sec- 

 retary of War after the plans assumed a final shape. 



I inclose copies of the War Department telegram referred to, and 

 of the letter of March 10 from the honorable the Secretary of the 

 Interior to the honorable the Secretary of War, referred to in this 

 letter. I return also the letter from the honorable the Secretaiy of 

 War, together with its two inclosures — the vouchers, in duplicate, of a 

 claim of the Alaska Commercial Company aggregating $1,461. 70. 

 Ver}" respectfull}', 3'our ol)edient servant, 



W. T. Harris, Commissioner. 



The Secretary of the Interior. 



Sir: 1 have the honor to acknowledge your letter of May 2, with 

 regard to the bill of supplies furnished by the Alaska Conunercial 

 Compan}' to Mr. H. E. Redmyer; also a cop}' of your letter of May 

 2, to the honorable the Secretary of the Interior, with reference to it. 



The })ill of supplies procured b}' Mr. Redmyer of the Alaska 

 Conunercial Company was for the support of the Lapps, which the 

 Wai- Department agreed to furnish until January 31, 1899, it being 

 the fulfilling of the contract which was made bj'the War Department 

 with the Lapps in Lapland to feed and clothe them for one year from 

 February 1, 1898. 



The War Department has already paid several similar bills, and 

 when its attention is called to it will pav this, as it is properly due 



