Upper Willamette Transportation Line
Steamboat transportation line in Oregon, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Upper Willamette Transportation Line was a line of four inland steamboats that operated from the fall of 1859 to the summer of 1860 on the upper Willamette River in the state of Oregon, United States.
| |
| Industry | river transport |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 1, 1859 |
| Founder | Theodore Wygant (1831-1905) |
| Defunct | June 30, 1860 |
| Headquarters | Oregon City, Oregon |
Area served | Upper Willamette River |
Operations
As of November 1, 1859, businessman Theodore Wygant (1831-1905) was the agent in Portland, Oregon for the steamers Elk, Onward, Surprise, and Relief.[1] Wygant formed these steamers into the Upper Willamette Transportation Company, and starting November 19, 1859, advertised, stage of water permitting, steamers of the line would depart for Corvallis twice a week, and, for Eugene City, once a week.[1] This arrangement was advertised until June 30, 1860.[2]
In 1860, the steamers of the line were competing against two powerful companies on the Willamette River, the Oregon Steam Navigation Company and the People's Transportation Company.[3]
Steamers of the line
All vessels of the line were wooden-hulled sternwheelers, built in the 1850s at Canemah, Oregon.[4]
- Elk, built 1857, destroyed by boiler explosion at Davidson’s Landing, near present day Dundee, Oregon, on November 17, 1860.[4][5][6]
- Onward, built 1858 for Archibald "Archie" Jamieson (d.1861), later came under control of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, then transferred to the People's Transportation Company in 1864, dismantled 1865 at Canemah.[4] Engines to Fannie Patton.[7] (Not to be confused with later Onward built 1867.)
- Relief, built 1858 at Oregon City for Cassidy & Co. Dismantled 1865 at Canemah.[4]
- Surprise, built 1857, laid up 1864.[4]