The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-11
UNION PACIFIC STEAMER LINES.
Haytiau Repubiic's New Samc-Weil-
known Boats Are Idle

Captain f. J. Ra,hbone, formerly port
captain of the Union Pacific Company's
boats on Puget sound. and one of the best
known men in shipping circles in Seattle,
came up from Portland yesterday morning
and is a guest 81 the Northern hotel. The
captain is now chief clerk under Receiver
Mcneil. of the Oregon Railway & Naviga-
ton Company. and has charge OF all the
company's steamers on the Columbia and
Willamette rivers and on the Sound, his
position being precisely that OF the late
superintendent of the water lines.
Captain Pegram. minus the title OF
superin tendent. Captain Rathbone came
over to the Sound to be present at
the annual inspection OF the steamship
George W. Elder, which took place last
evening. The Elder is now scheduled to
make one trip month between Nancou-
yer, b. c., and two trips month between
Portland and San Francisco. She came
here 10 be inspected. and is nov loading
/ 500 tons of coal for Portland from the
Oregon Improvement Company's bunkers.
Concerning the status of the company's
affairs in the steamboat service the captain
said:
1--WE are shipping great deal Of wheat
out of Portland, running the Oregon out
to San Francisco regularly. and We are
also carrying a good dea! of wheat on the
passenger steamships Columbia and State
of California The Portland has also been
put into commission by Us, carrying
wheat and general freight to San Fran
cisco. The Portland will be recognized
as the old HayIiau Republic, which was
condemned and conhscated by the govern
ment for smuggling. For long
time she has been lying idle in Portland
LAT - aatH at
ton py the United States marshal, our
people buying her in for $4,000. There
were only two bidders, the Oregon Rail-
Way & Navigation Company and Wheeler
| & CO.. OF Seattle. Wheeler & Co. bid SIS
| 90. and then we ran the price up 10 sl6,-
! GO and the boat Was sold for that sum.
We have expended about 5000 for re-
| pairs, and the vessel is now in good shape
/ and well worth $4,000. Inasmuch as the
| reputation of the boat was so unsavory as
/ n stnuggler. il behooved the new owners 10
/ change her name aud. upon proper repre-
| sentation 10 the secretary OF the treasury.
We were permitted 20 call her the Port
/ land. The Al-ki is also carrying freight
/ for us up and down the coast.
I'VE have eighteen river steamers ia
commission on the Columbia. Willamette
[ and snake rivers. and all are carrying very
/ heavy tonnage. frelghtIng by water at this
season 81 the year IN those districts being
/ especially good.
Concerning the company's steamers on
/ the Sound he said that there are bus two
steamers here. the Sehome and the North
/ Pacific, and both are At present tied up in
! Seattle harbor there being no route suf-
/ ieisnty lucrative 20 satisfy the company,
/ and consequently they are not IN commis-
sion. lie said that Tor the present the
1 company would not make any attempt TO
z ~. ~ a IT,
/ steamer Victorian is tied up IN the COM
/ pany's boneyard at Portland, there being
/ no work for her in sight She was built
( for the Sound trade. but the rapid building
+ Of railroads has given stesmboating q
severe set hack. The Victorian il too deep
] to be OF any service on the Columbia river
/ and unless a new route can bs located Tor
her on the sound she will remain tied up
/ indefinitely. The Oiympian also keeps
her company in the boneyArd at Portland
/ for the same reasons.
Speaking Of the Portland. formerly the
/ HayEiaR Republic Capt Rathbone said
! that two wesl-known Seattle steamboat
I men are employed on her. Capt. Holmes.
/ formerly esvts.a Of the steamship Una.
/ ,llia. running between Seattle and san
. Francisco. Is her new master. and Cant
! 6a&ag ~ ~"4N'Ss N~"t@ every enc IN
Seattle knows, is firss officer. Regarding
the recent Gre in Portland. Cap. RAth-
/ bone said:
The harned district in Alhina is now a
scene Of great activity. being covered with
ueS blocks, ana more are besng Guilt As
fast IS gaeR can work. Iselve OF fourteen
/ plie-6risers are al work, and 5000 or 8 900
/ El.eS aAy are being pui down Taey are
! peSgins away 81 Fseail1lng. bus no -
tempt has yet been made q rebuild the
elevator"
Capt Rathbons returns 10 Portland this