The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-20
SEATTaE-YUMCN
TRANSPORTATION CO.
o0-o2 Columbia ST., Near Depot

stated yesterday that negotiations are
now pending for the purchase Of the
splendid old steamer olyrnpian. the L.
J. Potter and the Sehome. all large side
wheeiers, the property of the Oregon Rail-
road & Navigation Company. TIE Sc
home IS now On the Seattle-Nictoria run:
the Ciyrapian is at Portland. where she
has been for years. The T. j. Potter IS
also there. For one brief season the
Potter piowed Up and down the Sound
and was then sent back 10 the Columbia
river The olympian is a steel-huii YES
sci and was considered one OF the most
paIstial steamers ever in the Northwest.
Both il and a sister ship rhe Alaskan. ran
from Puget sound 10 Sitka and juneau.
The Alaskan was lost at sea i'm 1SSs while
on her way from Portland 20 San Fran
cisco.
IL is interesting 70 note the passage OF
ownership OF these stea nlers and TO draw
a comparison between the ;ime when they
were significant factors in the growth OF
the Puget SOUND country and their return
10 the waters where their best work was
done. The Olympian was built at Will
mincton. Del. in 1875, and steamed around
from New York, .through the Straits OF
Magellan She is 2sI.5 feet long 10 feet
beam. and 12.5 depth of held. Her gross
tonnage is ]. s0.se. She is we'll fitted for
passenger business. The T. j. Potter was
built at Portland in 1855 She is go feet
in length. IS feet beam. los depth OF hold:
gross tonnage. s5941. She is also a pas
senger boat. and was regarded as some
thing of a freak al the time she was built.
having her engines. originally constructed
for a stern-whecler. applied TO a side
wheel boat without walking beam. The
Sehome was also built at Portland, in 1889.
She is 1921 feet long, So feet beam, 1o.5
depth Of hold. Her gross tonnage is 6a2. IS.
The Walowa is Ills feet long. 2s,s feet
beam. u.6 depth Of hold. and 1890 gross
tonnage. She was built in Portland in
1889. The North Pacific is 1865 feet long.
% feet beam. and I0,S depth. Her tonnage
is 1873. She was built in San Francisco
in 1871.
BY these sales 1859 gross tonnage OF
Portland-owned steamers will be brought
20 Puget sound. where they will be placed
in immediate use. President Mohler says
that ii is ali good steamboat property. 1t
is a commentary on the subject of logical
connection with Alaska. Concerning the
matter Of sale. the surnlise has been adj
vanced that the Olympian. Potter and Sc
home will pass to the ownership OF a new
company that the O. r. & y. may he heav-
lily interested in. if not the controller OF.
This assumption is made on the theory
that such an organization would admit of
the operation OF the steamers from the
Sound 10 Alaska by their present OWNERS.
When asked about the statement of the
pibpOStu tioStil- VI tue A'ENfH EdIEWdN
since control of the Short Line has passed
to the Union Pacific. Mr.. Mohler said
There has been no change, and there is
nothing 10 discuss. When told that Mr.
Heintz. assistant general passenger agent
of the Rio Grande Western, had said that
there was no official knowledge of any pro-
posed change, and that his line had en-
gagged extra equipment in order to handle
It's share of Alaska business, Mr.. Mohler
said that he preferred not 10 talk upon
a matter in which there was nothing TO
discuss.