 For ten years the area was without steamer service until the "Charlotte" was built by Alexander Watson for the North British Columbia Navigation Company in 1896.The N.B.C.N.C was organized by Senator James Reid of Quesnel, Captain John Irving of Victoria and Stephen Tingley of Ashcroft.Tingley, at this time had been the owner of the BC Express Company for eight years, having been the most famous of the "bull whips" of the Cariboo Road.