The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-07
A NEW ALASKA LINE.
Steamer Willapa to Be the
Pioneer i'm Opposition.
SEATTLE WILL GET THE BENEFIT
New Company Buys the Boat and Has
an Option on Another-rhs Wniaps
to Be Redtted.

The opposition steamer line TO Alaska is
a certainty and the steamer Wiiiapa Is to
be the pioneer of the new undertaking,
with the result that large proportion of
the products of Alaska which is now car
ried TO San Francisco and from there East
over the Southern Pacific will be landed
at Seattle and go East over the Northern
Pacific, Great Northern or Canadian Pa
cifc rosd. The promoters are Capt.
George Roberts. of the steamer Kingston;
Chief Engineer George II. Lent, of the
same steamer, and Charles E. Peabody,
Q well-known Port Townsend business
man. 1t is the intention TO start out the
WiiIapa on her maiden trip for the new
company on March l from this port. which
is 10 be the headquarters OF the company.
The plans of the company are TO operate
q line OF steam boats between Puget sound
ports and Alaska. la an interview with
Posr-INTELLIGEycER representative yester-
day George IL. Lent. one of the promoters,
said
1.-THE Pacific Coast Steamship Company
has for years had a monopoly on the
Alaska trade and has made San Francisco
her headquarters. and all business has been
taken to that port, when It naturally
should have come to this district. For
~
company has carried fceight from San
Francisco TO Alaska at less rate than
from the Sound. and would have been so
doing yet bad not the merchants of Puget
sound taken the matter in hand and de-
manded that the same rate be given them
that San Francisco merchants enjoyed.
I'VE propose TO have the freight all
landed al Sound points and shipped East
over the local roads, instead of shipping it
to San Francisco and then East, as the
Pacific Coast Steamship Company has
been doing, to the detriment of home mer-
chants and home interests. In other
words we propose to run this line entirely
in the interest OF our own community. and
If any benefit is to be derived from the
change our merchants will receive 1t. N.Y.
sell and partners are practical steamboat
men and are in the business to stay. We
are already at work on the steamer Will
apa, and have the option of another first
class and commodious boat which will be
placed on the run as soon as business just
ines, which, If We are not mistaken. Will
be about July l. We hope TO revolution
ize steam boating on the Alaska route. and
place the freight and passenger rate at such
q figure that 1t will be pleasure for BUSH
ness men and tourists to travel and trans
act business, instead of the expensive lux
ury they now have 70 contend with.
''Tne stea mer Wiliapa. which will be
the pioneer of the new line. has had her
hull thoroug hly overhauled and placed in
tirst-class condition. 1t is our intention
to replace the old boilers with Scotch
marine boilers, now being made to our
order. Her engines will be thoroughly
overhauled also and placed in first-class
condition. 4 latest improved electric
light plant will he placed on the boat.
together with electrical call bells and
other appliances. The boat will be pro-
vlded with a searchlIght and steam heat
l. IL IL. - -.
tire upper cabin Will be taken down and
replaced with new commodious one.
The upper deck will have twelve first
class staterooms, to accommodate twenty
four people, and there will be fourteen
first-class staterooms below, thus accom-
modating in all about fifty trst-ciass pas
sengers. These staterooms Will be
furnished in elegant style through
out, and will no doubt be salts
factory to the most fastldious
The steerage will be equipped with spring
beds. electric lights and steam heaters.
We intend to make il as comfortable for
passengers who are compelled to travel in
| this manner as possible. The berths will
be roomy and we'll ventilated, thing
which is rarely seen on other boats. The
| culinary department will receive strict at
| tention, and ii is our intention to mpioy
| polite. attentive table clerks. The purser,
| freight clerk and other officers will be men
| OF experience ana IN OrOuEntF CoInpeteub
TO manage their respective duties. We
| estimate that it will cost between s., 900
| and $1,000 to place the boat IN the condI-
| ton We desire IL 20 be.
I'VE are assured by many of the leading
| merchants of this city that our line Will
| receive fair treatment by them. and that is
ali We ask. They appreciate the fact that
the boat and the promoters are al! home
products, and We feel that the old time
| spirit of loyalty TO home interests. which
! has made Seattle so we'll known, will in
our case work much 10 our advantage"
It is stated that the purchase price OF the
steamer Willapa was $4,000. It is not
known positively where the steamer will
| ha TAKEN for her Eris hing tnuchas