water barred navigation on the Willamette River above Newberg, Oregon, and government dredging operations had ceased, there was talk among the farmers along the river between Newberg and Wheatland of securing the steamer Etna, then running on the Lewis River, to carry freight on the Willamette. Low water 1910 On October 6, 1910, early rains raised the water level high enough on the north fork of the Lewis River so that Etna could navigate on the route. This was about three or four weeks before the water was usually deep enough for Etna to make the trip on the north fork Grounding in 1911 In mid-February 1911, Etna struck a boulder and had to be taken to Joseph Supple’s shipyard in Portland to be repaired. The repairs were complete by February 26, but the steamer still could not ascend the Lewis River because of low water, there having been no recent rain or warmer weather to melt the mountain snows. Dam construction material In March 1911 it was "practically decided" that Etna, running under Captain Lurlie Gray, would be used to transport material and supplies to be used in construction of a power dam about 30 miles upriver from Woodland, Washington. The river then stood at 3.8 feet and it was expected that Etna would have no difficulty reaching Ariel, Washington, the head of navigation. Low water 1911 On Wednesday, November 8, 1911, rainfall in the Lewis River area raised the water level sufficiently to allow Etna to make its first trip of the fall season. Increased lumber business 1912 In May 1912 the logging and lumber mill business on the Lewis River was more prosperous than it had been for a long time. About a year previously, Dubois Lumber Co. of Vancouver, Washington had purchased over 40,000,000 board feet of timber about 15 miles upriver from Woodland. After much preparation, including road work, the company was reported to be ready to begin operations on Monday, May 13, 1912, with 25 to 40 men employed. About 25 men arrived at Woodland on Thursday May 9, and Etna took them to the logging camp on the North Fork at Yale, 25 miles upriver from Woodland. New schedule On Tuesday May 14, 1912, Etna went on a new schedule, running round trips on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays between Woodland and Ariel. Previously Etna had been traveling upriver one day and returning