The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-08-29

| west.
In 1893, Capt. Sorenson built the
steamer ST. Joe for the st. Joe Trans.
portation company. This boat wa,
put on the the st. Joe run. 1t had
an upper and lower deck, with two
cabins and state rooms and it's launch.
ing on the 4tb Of July was the great
event Of the day. Every one then
thought that with the George Cakes
ON the Occur d'Alsne river and the
steamer st. Joe on the st. Joe river
run. the business had reached its
climax. Capt. Ed. Shuck and Capt.
Geo. Reynolds navigated the steamer
for several years, while Capt. Moody
had charge Of the Volunteer.
The panic had been felt Ia shipping
circles TO great extent, but in 1896
the Lyon Navigation company was
organized and had the steamer
Defender constructed by p. W.
johnson. This boat later passed 10 +.
70 Mr.. Johnson's possession and con
tinned 10 make regular runs on the
-. Joe river. II is now the property
Of A. auckland and VIM. Crane aud
makes daily trips between Harrison
and this place.
From this time 10 1899. during the
years when Occur d'Alene and other
towns were struggling for existence,
sieamboating suffered along with other
lines Of business and no one had the
nerve to build boat of any size.
But in 1899, S. NJ Smith. David
Groves and Fred r. Wilson built the
steamer Sehley and put in her the
machinery from the old Gen. Sherman.
Later this WIS changed and the boat.
nov the property Of A. A. Darknell.
makes the round trip daily between
81. Maries and this place.
Business began to improve in 1900
and Capt. J. ID. Mcdonald came here
for the purpose Of engaging in steam
boating and contracted with Capt.
Sorenson for boat which is now the
steamer Spokane. making the run
between this place and the head of
navigation on the ST. Joe in connect
ion with the steamer Cclfax. The
Spokane IL 100 fest in length with q
beam Of l6 feet aud il neatly built
with two cabins, oslce aud state
rooms She has done q good business
from the time OF launching. An ex-
cursion Is run every Sunday from here
TO ST. Maries. She Is fitted with a
modern marine tubular boiler and
powerful engines
The Collar IL a companion TO the
Spokane, a little larger in some
respects. and very neatly finished and
furnished. She is in charge Of Capt.
Reynolds who has nAvigated the lake
and rivers for the past Is years and
Is now the oldest steamboat captain
actively engaged ON these waters.
She was completed In 1902.
The next large boat 10 be built was
the steam tug st. Joe. which p. W.
johnson completed for the st. Joe
Boom company last year. This boat
is so feet in length and l6 feet beam.
II was built especially for towing and
has great pulling power.
Aside from a number II small tnes
and pleasure crafts, this completes the
list Of boats constructed on the lake
until the building Of the steamer
Idaho. OF the steamers now In
commission on the lake making regular
trips are the Idaho 20 the bead OF
navigation on the st: Joe and return
each day except Sunday; the Spokane
making regular runs up the st. Joe
each Monday, Wednesday and Friday:
the Colfax making the same run ON
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, each
returning on alternate days; the
Schley making the round trip daily
from st. Maries 20 this place; the
George Cakes running daily between
here and Harrison; the Defender
making daily trips between Harrison
and this place.
In addition TO the steamers already
mentioned there are a number of small
tug boats and pleasure launches, both
steam and gasoline, making feet of
near so on the lake.
A comparison between the present
extensive traffic and that Of 1883. or
ten years later, will show the develop
ment Of the tributary country and its
resources to be most wonderful.
There il big change since the days
when A. A. Crane and a few others
sat ON the banks of the lake and
watched Joe Boughton go by in the
little steamer Echo. Those days
are pleasant dreams Of the long ago
when we were all Watching and wait.
ing for the light Of idnstry to brighten.
our paths and bring forth the budding
resources Of world Of wealth hidden
in our forests under our hills and in
the valleys,