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 accomplished 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 . °o° 
789,294 cases of salmon. 3 . 1 57 » x 76 
9,000 barrels of salted salmon. 81, 000 
186,250 pounds whalebone. r > 2I °* 625 
1,000 pounds ivor)*-. 5 . 000 
12,228 barrels whale oil. 103,668 
Product of the Killisnoo manufactory, oil and guano... 114,000 
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