in mid-may 1908, there was talk that "bailey gatzert" might be placed on the run from portland to megler, washington, where the union pacific railroad had recently completed a big new dock to allow better river steamer connections, chiefly by the u.p.'s "t.j.potter", to be made between the narrow-gauge rail line running to ilwaco and points on the long beach peninsula. there was expected to be a sharp contest for the summer business on the portland-megler run. with automobile traffic little developed, and with no good roads to the resorts on the peninsula, then popular with portland residents, steamer access was critical.