stefansson-wrangel-09-32-049v

302 THE ADVENTURE OF WRANGEL ISLAND

Letter from Mr. Carl J. Lomen

Lomen Reindeer and Trading Corporation
27 Pine Street, New York
and
Nome, Alaska

January 29, 1925.

MR. VILHJALMUR STEFANSSON,
Broadway at 156th Street,
New York City.

DEAR STEFANSSON:

You ask me to state briefly my reasons for purchasing
your interests in Wrangel Island. I number the differ-
ent reasons in the order of their importance to me:

1. My study of the history of Wrangel Island has led
me to the conclusion that should the British Government
withdraw its claims to Wrangel Island, the claims of the
American Government would become paramount. As
an American citizen, I was anxious to take a step which
would further strengthen American claims.

2. I consider that in connection with my Alaskan in-
terests I can maintain fur trapping establishments in
Wrangel Island at a profit. I have vague plans also of
developing later the possibilities of the island with regard
to walrusing and sealing. I notice the press despatches
from Vladivostok say that the Russian government is
willing to lease the island to American interests at a suit-
able rental, so evidently they realize the economic value
of the island no less than we. But I am not as yet ex-
pecting to have to lease from Russia concessions that are
either British or American.

3. I want to start on Wrangel Island a branch of our