Daily Alta California, Volume 38, Number 12749, 10 March 1885 — THE "TELEPHONE." [ARTICLE]

THE "TELEPHONE."

Tbe At« SK'rn.U'lierl Steamer on ibe Colombia River. The Columbia Transportation Company's new Etern-wheel steamer Telephone, which is to succeed the little steamer Fleetwood on the Columbia river route, made her first trip from Portland to Astoria on Sunday, .the 1st instant. The Telephone left Portland at 9 a. at. with about 225 passengers, and after making about twenty landings along the river, arrived at Astoria at 3:45 p. M. The actual running time was five hours and twenty-six minutes, an average of twenty miles an hour. The Telephone is claimed to be the fastest sternwheeler afloat, and when her full speed is attained it is thought she can make between twenty and twenty-one mile6 an hour. The new 6teamer measures 200 feet in length over all, and 28 feet beam, and draws 3}£ feet of water when loaded. She carries two non-condensing engines, with 22inch cylinders, having eight feet stroke. Her registered tonnage is 334. Her boiler is 32}£ feet long, 6>£ feet in diameter, and -jontains 230 tubes, 2)4 inches through and 18 feet long. She has 17 staterooms, with 34 berths, and has accommodations for 800 passengers. The boat is handsomely finished throughout in white and gold, and neatness without lavish expenditure is apparant at a glance. She also enjoys the proud distinction of being the first river boat on the Columbia to carry a piano. Travel on the Columbia river during the Summer months is extensive, and now when one can leave Astoria in the morning and arrive in Portland by 2 p. m., nearly two hours ahead of the other boats, it will require no prophet to foretell the result for the new steamer. Captain N. B. Scott, tb<* commander, is the most master on the river, and with this boat nnder bis command will ensure himself a successful future.