As river traffic increased, Hedges and some partners decided to put a steamboat on the Willamette above the falls. Hedges gathered up several thousand dollars in gold, and made a trip back east to buy the machinery for the vessel. He bought two engines which were shipped around Cape Horn to Oregon.
With an increase in river traffic, Hedges and his associates opted to place a steamboat on the Willamette above the falls. Hedges amassed a substantial amount of gold and journeyed eastward to acquire the necessary equipment for the vessel. He purchased two engines that were transported around Cape Horn to Oregon.