East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-05-15
WBOATLAUNCHED
~. y. TEAL" WILL PLY
ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER
New Vessel of Open River Transpor-
tation Association About Ready for
Service-Wnl be Operated In Con-
nection With the Portage Road
Is Very Light Draft and Will be
Successfully Operated In Low Wa
ter.

]. n. Teal, the new sternwheel
steamer built by Joseph Sipple for
the Open River Transportation COM
pany, is now practically ready to go
into commission carrying passengers
and freight between this city and
Big Eddy, point about three miles
above The Dalles, says the oregon
Sunday Journal. She was launched
yesterday afternoon from the ways at
supplies yard, and is complete ex-
cept for the furnishings of the cabin
and a few minor details to the ma
chinery.
The completion of the steamer
will mark the beginning of new era
for the country contiguous to the up
per Columbia. because 1t provides
the least expensive method of trans
portation with the metropolis and the
commercial center of the state.
The launching was a perfect sue
cess in every respect. 1t occurred at
2:2o o'clock, and little Miss Ruth
Teal, daughter of ]. n. Teal, father
of the Open River movement, and
in honor Of whom the craft was nam
ed, released the bottle of champagne
that sent the floating palace into her
element
AS customary with river craft, the
Teal was sent broadsid< into the wa
ter. She rode like a swan, and ship
ring men who watched her were as
tonished to note that she drew hut Is
inches of water, although practically
fully equipped.
Very Light Of Draft.
At this rate II Is figured she will
draw but 20 inches when loaded with
a couple of hundred tons of freight.
]. w. Johnstone, who designed the
lines, intended to make her the light
est draft boat on the Upper Column
bia river and those who have seen
her say he has met with success.
other steamers plying between
Portland and The palles draw from
three to six feet and they find 1t i'm
possible at times during the dry
summer months to make the rapids
below The Dalles. 1t is believed that
a solution of this serious problem
has hoen found in the ]. n. Teal, as
It has been demonstrated that the
light draft boats are also the best
kind of rapid climbers.
Superintendent Frank Smith, who
has had years of experience on these
rivers, is fully convinced that the
Tea. will have no trouble whatever
in covering her route on schedule at
all times of the year, and what is
more, she will go beyond The Dalles
AMI form direct connection with the
state portage road to Cello and con-
rectng there with the steamer Re-
lief
Great Freight Capacity.
The new boat is not the largest to
20 on the run selected, but she will
carry more freight in comparison to
her dimensions than any of the boats
now on the run because of the flat
and broad bottom. Her dimensions
are: Length, 160.10 feet; beam, 81
feet, and depth of hold, SO feet Her
engines will develop 500 indicated
horsepower and she is expected to
make good speed. This. however,
will he definitely determined on the
trial trip which has been booked for
some day this week.
Among those VINO witnessed the
launching were a number of promi-
nent steamboatmen and all expressed
themselves exceptionally well pleased
and predicted bright future for the
new addition to the fleet of the port.
Only few of them availed themselves
OF the opportunity to Shoot the
chutes," as they preferred to watch
tho slide from the shore
The steamer will be in command
of Captain A. ]. Geer and Samuel
Shaver will be chief engineer. She
has capacity for nearly 400 tons OF
freight and accommodations for zoe
passengers. The Oak street dock
has been leased and she will receive
and deliver freight and passengers
there. "c.t
Some people are not much for looks
until they begin to rubber