It was the first steamboat built in the Oregon Territory, and the first to establish regular service on the lower Columbia and Willamette rivers.

[5] Adair was a lawyer with political connections, and later was friend and advisor to Joseph Lane, one of Oregon's first senators.

[7] Another source states that Columbia was built by Thomas Goodwin and George Hewitt for Adair, Frost, and two others, whose names are given as Leonards and Green.

[2] It is to be regretted that there was no photo artist in those days to make a truthful picture of this poor sidewheeler as she struggled and panted against tide and current, doing her four or five miles an hour under favorable circumstances ... .

By the end of the first day, they had travelled fifty miles, and Frost, not wanting to risk the vessel in the dark, tied up to the riverbank.

For the luxury of a trip from Astoria to Portland the modest sum of $25 was asked and cheerfully paid, a considerable difference to the present 'cut rates' of 25 cents, by boat or railroad cars.

[3] Fares were $25 per person either way, with passengers to furnish their own food, which would be eaten from baskets or on blankets spread out on the deck or a table in the small cabin.

One early passenger, John McCracken, reported that he once paid two ounces of gold dust for travel on the Columbia from Astoria to Portland.

[3] According to one source, Mills, the backers of Lot Whitcomb refused to meet this, believing, correctly, that people would pay more to ride their superior steamer.