| Show DISCUSSION ON ALASKA CREDIT FOR INTRODUCING REINDEER TO THAT REGION Interesting Suggestion by Jlr Henry I Altman of this City to Secretary of Interior Bliss in 1898 Salt Lake City May 27 1300 Editor Tribune The article by Senator Sen-ator Nelson of Minnesota in todays Tribune Is timely and very Interesting I I will attract notice and be discussed It Is Senator Teller to whom credit Is to be given for the first Introduction of reindeer In Alaska One of thc statlons for them Is I named Teller In commemoration commemo-ration of his services as can be seen on any map of Alaska I will be remembered It was ro In 1S93 that a large number of whaling I vessels were caught In the Arctic Sea nearPoint Barrow and It was thought I they wero short of provisions for their long imprisonment The War depart J ment took up the matter of their relief and Imported some MO reindeer They I were landed I at New York in charge of I quite a colony of Lapland men women I and children hc whole were n Bight novel and picturesque They were all promptly sent across the continent and contnent old to Alaska in charge of an army officer I was my good fortune to spend hours sJcnd in seeing the sight while In New Yorft The Alaska gold fever was then in Its Is j infancy Being one of the early be Hovers in I 1 saw at once the possl I bllltles of the reindeer as factors in the I development of the cold fields of that sterile region j The following correspondence was a i result of my notions of the situation I Senator Nelson much situaton Senatol goes farther and favors acquisition without limit of Lap i landers Finns and their reindeer It j looks like a case of the eternal fitness J of things HENRY ALTMAN New York March 2 1S9S I Hon Cornelius N Bliss Secretary of Interior Washington DC Dear SirThe newspapers credit you I with an Intention to secure the reindeer I that have Just arrived and those en route for Alaska If the War departments depart-ments relief expedition Is abandoned as It no doubt will be I Is i said there Is good In everything and the acquisition I acquisi-tion of these half thousand reindeer j with those already In Alaska point the way to what the Government should promptly do viz purchase at least 10000 more to be sent there turned loose and protected for several years by severe se-vere penalties to any one killing them during the time fixed Domestic ones I and those captured after the expiration I of such time could be branded to distinguish dis-tinguish them a private property tho others becoming common property They will SOlO two great purposes j those of transportation and food for the multitudes of people who are to possess and occupy Alaska Nature has there In great bountifulness provided an un limited food supply for these creatures j I In the mosses that overspread so much I of that apparently Inhospitable region I Very respectfully HENRY ALTMAN HEN1Y Department of the Interior Washing ton March o J 1S9S Henry VashlnS 2 Nassau St New YorkirI am in receipt of your letter of tho 2nd Instant making Homo Interesting sug I gestlons concerning reindeer In Alaska Alslea I 1 and bog to say that they will have such I attention as It may be possible to give I them Very respectfully C N BLISS Secretary I |
