The Train Reaches Usk, and the Steamboat Follows
On September 4, 1909, the Idaho & Washington Northern begins double daily passenger service to Usk, where a new dock will connect trains with riverboats for Ione.
Passenger service on the I. W. N. extension to Usk will be inaugurated Saturday, Sept. 4. Local freight trains have been in service a month or more, but owing to delay in completing the big cut on the Mauzey property south of town passenger trains could not be run around the shoo-fly track on account of the extreme length of the coaches. A steam shovel was put at work on the big cut about two weeks ago, and by working two shifts it is confidently expected that the cut can be completed by the date set for starting passenger service.
A double daily train service will be installed, according to an advance copy of the new time card. Train No. 2 will leave Spokane as heretofore at 7:05 a. m., arrive at Newport at 9:20, Wolfred at 9:35, Dalkena at 9:50 and Usk at 10 a. m. Train No. 4 will leave Spokane at 11 a. m., 15 minutes earlier than heretofore, arrive at Newport at 1:08, Wolfred 1:23, Dalkena 1:40, Usk 1:50 p. m. No. 105 will leave Usk at 1:10 p. m., Dalkena 1:20, Wolfred 1:35, Newport 1:50, arriving at Spokane at 4 p. m. No. 1 will leave Usk at 5:30, Dalkena 5:40, Wolfred 5:55, Newport 6:15 and arrive at Spokane at 8:35. All trains stop on flag at Wolfred.
On the same date Usk will be made the terminus of the steamboat run of the boats of the Pend Oreille River Navigation Co. A dock is now being built to accommodate the traffic. A double daily service, except Sunday, to Ione will be installed, the boats leaving Usk at 10:15 a. m. and 2:25 p. m., and arriving at Usk at 1:00 and 5:15 p. m.
The laying of steel on the extension will be resumed about the first of the month and Ione will be reached in about 40 days. The grade to Ione is practically all completed. With the completion of the road to that point it is likely that the boat runs of the Pend Oreille River Navigation Co. will be discontinued.
“On the same date Usk will be made the terminus of the steamboat run of the boats of the Pend Oreille River Navigation Co. A dock is now being built to accommodate the traffic.”
The I.W.N. and the Pend Oreille River boats were the region's connective tissue before highways, tying isolated settlements to Spokane on a schedule printed like a lifeline. Usk and Ione are quiet rural towns today, but the old rail grade and boat landings still trace how transportation once decided which towns grew.
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