Steam navigation on Lake Coeur d'Alene lasted from the 1880s to the 1930s. More steamboats operated on Lake Coeur d’Alene than on any other lake west of the Great Lakes. The high point of steam navigation was probably from 1908 to 1913. After that railroads, and increasingly automobile and truck traffic on newly built highways supplanted steam navigation, although some vessels continued to be operated until the mid-1930s.
Operations
In September 1908, the Red Collar steamship line operated seven steamers on Lake Coeur d'Alene, which was 27 miles, running mainly in a north-south direction. The main city on the lake was Coeur d’Alene, at the northern, downstream end. By 1908 the city of Coeur d'Alene was connected by steam and electric rail lines to Spokane, Washington, about 30 miles to the west. The lake varied from 50 to 400 feet deep, and with the adjacent navigable St. Joe River, formed a natural water route just over 60 miles long.
In the summer months, in 1908, the Red Collar Line ran three trips daily on the lake to St. Maries, a 45-mile run, and two trips daily to St. Joe. In 1908, the steamer North Star, made the St. Maries run in 3 hours 40 minutes.
The fast steamers Flyer and Idaho were operated on the 20 mile run between Coeur d’Alene and Harrison. Winter service on the lake often required ice-breaking, which sometimes took as many as three steamers to force a passage through the ice.
Sources of coal in the area included Rosyln and Rock Springs.
Lack of regulation
There were no federal steamboat inspectors assigned to Lake Coeur d’Alene, and there were frequent races, overcrowding of vessels, instances of drunken crew members, including captains and pursers, and other hazardous actions. Another dangerous practice was to haul dynamite at the same time as a vessel carried passengers. However, there had been only one fatal loss of a steamboat, that of the first Spokane in the 1880s on the Coeur d' Alene River, where five people had died.
Competition
In the early 1900s, there was an intense rivalry on the lake and the rivers between two companies. One concern was the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe Transportation Company, later known as the Red Collar Line, which had been formed by Joseph Clarence "J.C." White and Jim Spaulding and his son, Harry. The other company was White Star Navigation Co., also known as the White Star Line, which had been incorporated by Capt. George Reynolds and McDonald.
In 1903, the Red Collar Line built the 147 foot long side-wheeler Idaho, which was described as "luxurious." In response, the White Star Line built the Boneta, originally 96 feet long, but later lengthened by 25 feet.
In 1905, while operating on the St. Joe River under the command of Captain Reynolds, Boneta was rammed and sunk by a rival steamer, the side-wheeler Idaho. This occurred just upriver from the O-W R & N bridge over the St. Joe River. Reynolds claimed that Idaho pursued him across the river with the intent of sinking Boneta. Capt. Jim Spaulding, of Idaho, said there was a confusion in signals.
A subsequent trial was not able to fix responsibility for the collision. Because the steamers on Lake Coeur d’Alene were not subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service, no government investigation was made into the collision. Boneta was raised and operating again for the White Star line in April 1907, making tri-weekly trips on the lake. In 1908, the White Star Navigation Company sold out to the Red Collar Line, which now achieved a virtual monopoly over transportation on the lake. Its fleet in 1908 comprised Idaho, Spokane, Colfax, Boneta, Flyer, Telephone, Georgie Oakes, North Star, and Milwaukie. The company also operated 14 barges as well as the tugs Rambler and Bonanza.
Points on the route
West side
Starting with the city of Coeur d’Alene, on the west side of the lake from north to south were the following points: Coeur d’Alene (city). Cougar Creek, Casca Bay, Kid Island Bay, Mica Bay, Lyondale (as of 1912 terminus of railway leading west into Mica Mountains up Mica Creek), Del Cordo Bay, Loff's Bay, Len Landing, Black Rock, Rockford Bay, Windy Bay, Amwaco (a rail terminus after 1910), Farmington Landing, and Conkling Park and Hotel. Amwaco was the terminus of the Lake Creek and Coeur d'Alene Railroad, completed in 1910.
Saint Joe River
At the far southern end of the lake, flowing in from an easterly direction, was the Saint Joe River, which was navigable for some distance. The river was about 2,100 feet elevation above sea level, and it was claimed that it was the highest navigable river in the world.