The Vancouver route, which, owing to the large amount of business furnished by the United States garrison at that point had always been very much prized, was the scene of a vigorous steamboat war in 1881, when the steamer Washington appeared.

She was built at Portland by the People's Transportation Company of Vancouver,

The fare dropped to twenty-five cents for the round trip. The old company eventually obtained control of the business, and in 1882 the Washington was sent to the Sound, where she became one of the first boats of the Washington Steamboat Company.

After the appearance of finer steamers she was retired from service and for the past few years has been laid up near Everett on the Snohomish River.

The old-time Portland stern-wheeler Washington which had been transferred to the Sound and laid up during the hard times after 1894, was found to be too far gone to enter active service and was dismantled, her engines going into one of the new hulls for northern river service.

The Washington had appeared on the Portland to Vancouver route in 1881 for the independent People's Transportation Co. of Vancouver, and owned by George W Durgin and partners., commanded by Capt. Charles Troup.