The Ione Is Coming: Newport Builds the River's Largest Excursion Steamer

The material for the hull of the new passenger steamer Ione has arrived from Portland, where the boat was constructed. She will be rebuilt at the new yards established just below the locks of the Pend d'Oreille River Transportation Co. The work of preparing the cribbing and stocks was started on Monday.

T. Sampson, of Portland, will have charge of the construction work, and says that, barring accidents and delays in receiving material, he will have the boat finished inside of 60 days. Mr. Blackwell, the owner of the new boat, plans to have her in commission by the middle of May, if money and men can accomplish that end. The Ione will be a passenger boat and will have a carrying capacity for 400 passengers. Her length is 135 feet and she has a 20-foot beam, and will be the finest and largest boat on the river. She will be used in the excursion trade in connection with the Idaho & Washington Northern Railroad.

Four cars of material for the Ione arrived here on Thursday. The balance of the material is expected daily.

The river has dropped about two feet during the past week. This is accounted for by the extreme cold weather that has prevailed of late in the Rocky Mountains, the headwaters of the Pend d'Oreille. If this continues for another week it will seriously interfere with navigation.

Travel on the river is heavier at the present time than for several years past. It will increase as the facilities for reaching the various towns are improved. The beautiful scenery along the grand old river will attract many hundreds of tourists, who have failed to visit this section on account of the poor transportation facilities. The lack of hotel accommodations at lower river points, notably in the vicinity of Box Canyon, will probably be overcome by the erection of a modern hotel near Ione this summer.