then reached an agreement with the owners of La Center to trade machinery, with La Center’s gasoline engine going to Uncle Sam, and Uncle Sam’s boiler, engines, and other gear going to La Center. Operations La Center made its trial trip in Portland harbor on February 22, 1912, with Captain Brothers in command. In July 1912, the Lewis River Transportation Company sold its interests in the east fork of the Lewis river, consisting of the small sternwheeler Spellei, a barge, and five acres of land, to Uriah S. Brothers, E.C. Brothers, and Peter Moe, who were at that time operating the newly built La Center from a dock at the foot of Washington Street in Portland, Oregon, to La Center, Washington. According to another source, Uriah S. and E.C. Brothers, and Peter Moe reached an agreement with the Lewis River Transportation Company, who owned the launch Charm, whereby La Center would carry freight and Charm would carry passengers on the Lewis River route. The Lewis River was a profitable route before the development of other means of transportation. Collision with David Campbell On May 24, 1913, La Center was taken to Joseph Supple's shipyard on the east side of Portland to have repairs done on its right-side guard and to have its gasoline engines shifted into position, the work being necessary to address the damage to La Center caused by the new fireboat David Campbell, when the Campbell collided with La Center when La Center was docked at the foot of Washington Street. Proposed sale On October 5, 1913, a steamboat line matching the description of La Center was offered for sale through T.W. Nordby, with an address at the Couch Building in Portland. According to this advertisement, the line had one steamer, two warehouses, five acres of ground, and earned $500 per month net of expenses. The asking price was $7,000. Collision with Shaver On the night of Friday, October 24, 1913, La Center collided with the sternwheeler Shaver on the Willamette River off St. Johns. La Center was running under the command of Captain Peter I. Moe. Shaver was being operated by Captain Berry.Shaver, at 368 gross tons was a much larger vessel than La Center. According to a report in the Morning Oregonian, damages to shipments of prunes. beef, hogs and "general stuff" being carried on board La Center exceeded $1,000. The initial news report of the