The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-11-28
STATE STEAMER YAKIMA
ENR0UTE DOWN RIVER
Reached Brewster Last Night and Will Arrive Here
Probably Tomorrow Will Be Used by the Govern
ment for Which 100000 Has Been Appropriated
for the Upper River-state Work Also Urged

Brewster, Wash, Nov. 2S.-The
celebrated Columbia river improve
ment steamer Yakima, owned by the
state Of Washington, reached this
place last evening from Kettle Falls
and left today for Wenatchee, but
Will not get beyond Chelan tonight
The Yakima has been loaned to
the United States war department
by the state commission for the pur-
pose of securing the 100000 APP
preparation made for the upper Co.
lunibia by the last congress. She is
now in charge of Eugene Ricksecker,
Of the L. S. engineering service, who,
it is expected, will have supervision
o. the government work on the river
in this vicinity Captain William R.
Thomas, who has been in the gov
eminent employ on the lower Column
bia, will be master of the boat.
Word had been received that the
Yakima was due and her advent was
eagerly watched for by Brewster
citizens as her safe arrival would be
a practical object lesson of the pos
sbility OF navigating the upper Co
lumber river at law water since the
\ extensive Improvement work which
was conducted by the state river
commission with the big steamer,
under command CT Captain Fred Nc
Dermott last winter At that time
the Yakima was taken back and
forth over the worst places and great
quantities of rock were shot to pieces
AID removed to open clear channels
for steamers. The stage of water is
yet several feet higher than when the
work was done last winter, but it was
learned that in making the descent
at this time the boat used these
channels easily and that no difficult
ty was experienced whatever. The
passage of the famous Box Canyon
and Foster creek rapids was made
during a snow storm without trOu-
Bile or incident. Captain Thomas and
Mr.. Ricksecker were highly elated.
The only accident Was when in back
ing away from the Brewster wharf
boat, a mishap occurred to the wheel.
Almost simultaneous with the de-
parture of the Yakima continuing
her trip down river, and OF equal in
terest for the people of the entire
upper Columbia district, was the
sailing of the steamer Charles Bu-
rcau from this port for Kettle Falls.
The Bureau has been employed on
the Okanogan, but goes from here
to Kettle Falls to finish up the de-
licvery of the crops in that section.
Rumor has it that as soon as the
crop hauling is finished the Bureau
may be leased by the river commits
apparatus for rock drilling and
dredging, and that the state commits
sion will in that way continue i'm
krovement work. 1t is understood
Phere that it is largely for this pur-
pose that the Kettle Falls people have
offered special inducements to the
owners of the boat to have her out
fitted and sent TO these waters. The
people of the upper river are very
DESTROYS of securing regular COM
nlunication by river as soon as pos
sible with the railroad at Brewster
or Wenatchee. Hope is strengthened
that the commission and the govern
ment will push things on the river
this winter by the fact that Captain
Fred McDermott, executive commits
90 tot mic
turned to Kettle Falls on the Bureau
in order to Judge of the capabilities
of the boat for that work before she
should be leased by the commission.
1t is judged here that the boat will
prove herself equal to the require
ments and that in such case the work
by the state board, which has been
proven to be so satisfactory, will be
shortly resumed.
The reporter who interviewed the
officers on the Yakima is not at lib
erty to publish all the interesting
views expressed by them, but it can
be strongly stated that things look
pretty good for the effective ener-
gies of Uncle Sam and the state of
Washington just so soon as the wa
nr gets low enough, and that the
good accomplished by the Yakima
last winter insurcs greater results
by the state commission and the gov
eminent this win sr, all of which
will contribute to blish boat SER
vice along the VIII river. next year.