INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC IIEINDEP:R INTO ALASKA. 119 



to the relief fund in charge of the War Department. It under- 

 took to procure in Lapland, transport to the United States, and place 

 in the Yukon Valley, both the reindeer and the herders and their 

 families, making a contract with the herders for the same. This l)ill 

 is in f ullillment of said contract. 



If there is any hesitation on the part of the War Department to 

 pa3ang- it, place it on tile until my return next fall. 



Mr. Redmyer met with more difficulties in crossing the country 

 than he had anticipated, partly due to the unknown nature of the 

 country, and partly due to the weakened condition of the deer after 

 the detention at Haines Mission last spring. This necessitated pur- 

 chases of provisions at several points along the Yukon Valley, and 

 in midwinter, when prices are at their highest. Consecjuently, while 

 the bills are large, the amount of provision received is not large. 

 Very truly, yours, 



Sheldon Jackson. 



Hon. W. T. Harris, LL. D., 



C<>minissioner of l^thieatloit., Waskliujfon^ D. C. 



DR. SHELDON JACKSON APPOINTED SPECIAL A(tENT OF THE WAR 

 DEPARTMENT FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE LAPPS. 



War Department, 

 Washiugtoi), April 9A, 1S99. 



Sir: You are hereby designated as special agent of the War Depart- 

 ment for the purpose of closing the accounts of the Lapps for salary 

 due under their contract with the War Department for services in 

 connection with the Alaska Relief Expedition. 



You are advised that the sum of $15, (JOG has been deposited with the 

 United States depository at Portland, Oregon — The First National I^ank 

 of Portland, Oregon — to the credit of Capt. Edgar S. Walker, Eighth 

 United States Infantry, acting assistant quartermaster, now on duty 

 at Fort St. Michael, Alaska. Captain Walker has been authorized and 

 directed to issue checks in payment of the amounts due the Lapps on 

 account of salary upon proper vouchers ])eing furnislunl, duly certified 

 to by you as special agent of the War Department in this matter. 



Before the First National Bank will pay Captain Walker's checks 

 it will prol)a])ly rec^uire a copy of his signature, didy certified to. 

 The most direct manner of settling this matter appears to be for jow. 

 to leave your signature with the First National Bank of Portland while 

 en route to Fort St. Michael, if practicable, and upon arriving at the 

 latter place to obtain Captain Walker's signature, and certify it with 

 your signature, and transmit the same to the bank at Portland. It is 

 suggested, however, that it would be well for you, while en route, to 

 stop at Portland and have- a full conference with the l)ank, in order to 



