at the end of december, 1917, the "gatzert" was taken out of service for the winter. on february 26, 1918, the regulator line, owners of the "bailey gatzert", announced through drake c. o'reilly, head of the corporation, that it would not be resuming service from portland to the dalles. the company cited increased labor costs, and the increased price of fuel oil, which had risen from 75 cents to $1.65 per barrel, as causes of its decision, which idled the steamers "gatzert" and "dalles city", with the company having no plans for either vessel. this left the steamer "tahoma", under the people's line, running from portland to the dalles three times a week.