This is Floyd Wynne with The View from Here

This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE

It was certainly another red letter day for the Klamath Basin.

The little community of Klamath falls looked forward eagerly to the beginning of the year of 1905. The area had almost been isolated from the rest of the state of Oregon up to that time. The only travel out of the area was by boat up the Upper Klamath Lake to Pokegama where they could catch a stage to the valley .

There had long been rumors about a possible railroad into the area, and there were reports that federal officials were examining the area to see if it was possible to open the area to irrigation farming.

Work had been going on to construct a large boat for Upper Klamath Lake, and on Saturday, January 28, 1905 people gathered by the side of the Link River to\ see the christening of the Winema. It marked a new beginning for the traffic on that lake.

A race had been going on with another group known as the Klamath Navigation Company had also been at work constructing a huge boat for the area. Much of the planning and preparatory work was being done in Portland. The large boat was called the Klamath. When launch time came around, it was obvious that it would be on the Lower Klamath Lake.

The Klamath had a unique design. It’s hull was indented so that the propeller would not get hung up on the shallow areas of the lake.Despite this feature she did get hung up a number of times. The little community was overjoyed. Instead of having to rely on little boats for access both north and south, they now had two large boats that could handle considerable cargo as well as passage for many people.

The Republican newspaper of the day reported: August 3, 1905: The steamer Klamath is now at anchor at the Klamath Lake Navigation Company’s wharf awaiting arrival of the inspectors before being commissioned . At seven and one half minutes after nine o’clock Saturday morning the boat started on the ways and in exactly thirty seconds touched the waters of Lake Ewauna.

An article on October 12, 1905 read: The steamer Klamath will start regular trips to Lairds Landing where it will connect with the stage from the terminus of the McCloud River Railroad. They would make regular trips between Lairds Landing in Klamath Falls.

Meantime other efforts were underway that would have a devastating effect on both the Klamath and the Winema.

Plans for an irrigation system for the area were going forward and would culminate in 1907 when the first water from this effort opened a new era for the Basin. While the two steamers did great work on Upper and Lower Klamath Lake…..still another blow was coming.

Two years later the railroad that had been talked about for many years would finally became a fact and the once pretty isolated community of Klamath Falls would at least have railroad transportation south. Ironically it was the Klamath that hosted several hundred Klamath Falls people and took them down the lake to Teeter’s landing where they were able to ride the first train into Klamath Falls.

It was the final trip for the Klamath. Later she would be transferred by a special rail line to Upper Klamath Lake where she would see duty mainly hauling huge log floats into the mills of the area. One other glorious moment for the Klamath was in late August of 1907 when the Republicn reported: Like the Arab that quietly folded his tent and silently stole away did the Harriman Party enter the city twenty four hours earlier than expected. That group included such people as E. H. Harriman himself and his two sons but others like engineer H. P. Hoey who would have a great deal to say about the future of the area.

The Klamath gradually found little use for its services and finally was tied at the mill end of the cut leading from the Upper Lake to the sawmill itself. It gradually sunk to the bottom of the log cut and there ended its career.

The years of the early 1900s certainly were great moments in Klamath History.

This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.

$Text Box: This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE It was certainly another red letter day for the Klamath Basin. The little community of Klamath falls looked forward eagerly to the beginning of the year of 1905. The area had almost been isolated from the rest of the state of Oregon up to that time. The only travel out of the area was by boat up the Upper Klamath Lake to Pokegama where they could catch a stage to the valley . There had long been rumors about a possible railroad into the area, and there were reports that federal officials were examining the area to see if it was possible to open the area to irrigation farming. Work had been going on to construct a large boat for Upper Klamath Lake, and on Saturday, January 28, 1905 people gathered by the side of the Link River to\ see the christening of the Winema. It marked a new beginning for the traffic on that lake. A race had been going on with another group known as the Klamath Navigation Company had also been at work constructing a huge boat for the area. Much of the planning and preparatory work was being done in Portland. The large boat was called the Klamath. When launch time came around, it was obvious that it would be on the Lower Klamath Lake. The Klamath had a unique design. It’s hull was indented so that the propeller would not get hung up on the shallow areas of the lake.Despite this feature she did get hung up a number of times. The little community was overjoyed. Instead of having to rely on little boats for access both north and south, they now had two large boats that could handle considerable cargo as well as passage for many people. The Republican newspaper of the day reported: August 3, 1905: The steamer Klamath is now at anchor at the Klamath Lake Navigation Company’s wharf awaiting arrival of the inspectors before being commissioned . At seven and one half minutes after nine o’clock Saturday morning the boat started on the ways and in exactly thirty seconds touched the waters of Lake Ewauna. An article on October 12, 1905 read: The steamer Klamath will start regular trips to Lairds Landing where it will connect with the stage from the terminus of the McCloud River Railroad. They would make regular trips between Lairds Landing in Klamath Falls. Meantime other efforts were underway that would have a devastating effect on both the Klamath and the Winema. Plans for an irrigation system for the area were going forward and would culminate in 1907 when the first water from this effort opened a new era for the Basin. While the two steamers did great work on Upper and Lower Klamath Lake…..still another blow was coming. Two years later the railroad that had been talked about for many years would finally became a fact and the once pretty isolated community of Klamath Falls would at least have railroad transportation south. Ironically it was the Klamath that hosted several hundred Klamath Falls people and took them down the lake to Teeter’s landing where they were able to ride the first train into Klamath Falls. It was the final trip for the Klamath. Later she would be transferred by a special rail line to Upper Klamath Lake where she would see duty mainly hauling huge log floats into the mills of the area. One other glorious moment for the Klamath was in late August of 1907 when the Republicn reported: Like the Arab that quietly folded his tent and silently stole away did the Harriman Party enter the city twenty four hours earlier than expected. That group included such people as E. H. Harriman himself and his two sons but others like engineer H. P. Hoey who would have a great deal to say about the future of the area. The Klamath gradually found little use for its services and finally was tied at the mill end of the cut leading from the Upper Lake to the sawmill itself. It gradually sunk to the bottom of the log cut and there ended its career. The years of the early 1900s certainly were great moments in Klamath History. This is Bob Wynne, sitting in for Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.$