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the year 1899, ^^^^ his reminiscent statement, given above, is for purposes of comparison with the Alaska trade of the later time, after the Klondike and other gold discoveries had awakened the vast Northland into a new life. He says: "During the past and present seasons (1898 and 1899) fifteen steamers ranging from two thousand seven hundred to a few hundred tons capacity, carried tens of thousands of passengers and freight aggregating not far from a hundred thousand tons to and from Alaska."
Without attempting to trace the progress of the Alaska trade in detail, it may be pointed out that the Collector of Customs for the Alaska District, reporting for the year ending December 31, 19 16, gives the
