Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/134

124 with the Bradford road and their boats, from the Cascades to The Dalles. 0. Humason owned the portage road from Dalles City, around the dalles of the Columbia to Celilo, 15 miles, using oxen and mules and great freight wagons to carry passengers, until the portage railroad was built in 1862.

Before the steamer Wright made her appearance on the river above Celilo all freight was transported above Celilo on what was called schooners, which were simply schooner-rigged barges.

During the greater part of the year there is a strong wind on that part of the river, which often enabled them to make good time. I saw one or two of these crafts as late as 1862. But they soon disappeared when steamboats came, and, like all primitive things, were pushed aside by the hand of progress.

By 1859 the transportation business had greatly increased, and there being two complete lines between Portland and The Dalles, produced strained relations between the two opposing companies, and a rate war seemed imminent. Several efforts had already been made to combine all the different interests under one management, but all had failed. At length an arrangement was reached. The portage roads at the Cascades and the steamboats, wharfboats and property belonging with them, were appraised, each at its cash value. the whole amounting to $175,000. On the 29th day of December, 1860, articles of incorporation were signed and filed at Vancouver, Clark County, Washington Territory, incorporating the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, shares $500 each. There were 16 shareholders, the largest being R. R. Thompson, with 120 shares; Ladd & Tilton, 80 shares; T. W. Lyles, 76 shares; J. Kamm, 57 shares; J. C. Ainsworth, 40 shares; and so on down, the smallest share holder having but three shares.

In October, 1862, the company filed new articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State, at Salem, and also with the County Clerk of Multnomah County, Oregon, with a capital stock of $2,000,000, represented by 25 shareholders, at