X. 



Commerce Transportation Facilities — Proposed 



Railroad. 



It is difficult to obtain statistics in regard to the trade of Alaska, 

 since the transportation of imports and exports is accompHshed less 

 by the regular lines than through special conveyances. The large 

 companies engaged in business in the Territory usually employ 

 their own ships. There were some 87 trading houses reported in 

 Alaska in 1891, located in not less than 60 towns and villages, 

 and scattered from Point Barrow to the southern extremity, and 

 from Loring to Attu. The number of stores for the sale of general 

 merchandise in southeastern Alaska in 1892 was 47. The imports 

 consist of merchandise, machinery, powder, clothing, provisions, 

 tools, furniture, etc. The exports are made up of fish, furs, 

 whalebone, ivory, oils, gold and silver bullion and ores. The 

 total imports in 1892, according to the report of Governor Knapp, 

 of Alaska, amounted to the value of $2,164,238. The exports 

 are classified as follows: 



Exports. 



Furs, curios, etc., from 13 stations, southeast Alaska $351, 000 



1,220,000 codfish (7,500 tons) 375, 000 



789,294 cases of salmon 3, 157, 176 



9,000 barrels of salted salmon 8r, 000 



186,250 pounds whalebone i, 210, 625 



1,000 pounds ivory 5, 000 



12,228 barrels whale oil 103, 668 



Product of the Killisnoo manufactory, oil and guano 114, 000 



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