A $35,000 Sternwheeler Will Turn the Pend d'Oreille Into Newport's Excursion Stage
A luxurious new tow-and-excursion boat, built in Portland and shipped knocked down to Newport, promised river trips, towing power, and free advertising for the valley.
NEW BOAT IS ASSURED Being Built at Portland, Oregon Large New Passenger Boat For Pend d'Oreille River
As announced in the Miner last week, there is to be a new excursion and towing steamer on the Pend d'Oreille River next year. W. H. Irving, general manager of the Pend d'Oreille River Navigation Company, was at Portland last week and while there made arrangements for the building of the boat. It will be a stern wheeler 130 feet long by 28 feet wide, with a draft of less than two feet.
The boat will cost about $35,000 and will be the finest craft plying any of the waters of the Inland Empire. She will be equipped with powerful machinery and will have at least twice the power of the Spokane. Speed will be one of the uppermost considerations in her design. She will be equipped with a complete electric lighting outfit and will present very luxurious conveniences for those who make the river trip.
The boat will not enter the regular passenger service, it being the intention of the company to keep the Newport in this service as at present. The new boat will be used for excursion business and for towing, and in the latter service will be a welcome addition to the fleet of boats now on the river. It is reported to be the intention of the company to have frequent excursions out of Newport next season, run in connection with railway excursions from Spokane. The beautiful and romantic scenery of the Pend d'Oreille will certainly prove a great attraction, and the excursions will do much to advertise Newport and the valley country.
After the boat has been built it will be shipped in knockdown form to Newport and shipbuilders sent here to put her together and launch her. Many boats have been built in this manner in Portland and shipped to Alaska and inland waters.
The announcement of the building of the new boat will be hailed with pleasure by people and shippers from down the river. A powerful towing boat has long been needed and the new boat will supply the want.
“The beautiful and romantic scenery of the Pend d'Oreille will certainly prove a great attraction, and the excursions will do much to advertise Newport and the valley country.”
Newport still sells the Pend d'Oreille as a recreation destination, and this 1907 plan shows tourism and towing were already the river's economic pitch. The town's future was being staked on scenery, excursion traffic, and better boats rather than on the railroad alone.
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