Four Steamboats and a Free Bus: Newport's River Boom

The new steamer Ruth started regular trips Monday, Sept. 28, on the following schedule: leave Newport Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m.; arrive at Cement at 4 p.m. Leave Cement Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 a.m.; arrive at Newport at 2:30 p.m. Leave Newport Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m.; arrive at Cusick at 5 p.m. Leave Cusick Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 a.m.; arrive at Newport at 10 a.m. Connections are made at Cement for Metaline by stage and boat. The Ruth is landing at the Stevens dock.

One of the Kennedy barges, loaded with lumber for the Fidelity mill across the river, sank while the Spokane was towing it up the river. The barge was reached near Fremming's place and a crew put to work lightering the load, and the Spokane was engaged for a couple of days in siphoning it, bringing it to Newport Wednesday.

The Nancy arrived in port on Sunday night. This is the first trip of the flyer to Newport since early in the season. She has been running the canyon and lower river. She will be fitted up for winter service and probably operated between Newport and Metaline, running the canyon as before the last change of her schedule.

The Flynn Bros. have purchased the old boat house at the Stevens dock and have moved it upstream several rods. A new boat house is being constructed by Stevens at the docks to provide for the increased amount of business.

The management of the Ruth are now operating a free bus from the various hotels to the Stevens docks. Passengers and baggage are carried free to and from the boat to the hotels.

With the Ione, Ruth, Nancy and Portland all after passenger traffic out of this port, and the Newport attending to lower river navigation for the Navigation Co., and the Spokane doing towing for the same company, the river presents the liveliest appearance in its history. The Metaline and the Defender are the only boats not now in commission.