Ives had been Whipple's chief assistant in 1853-54, and therefore well understood the situation.

But he states that the company was "unable to spare a boat except for a compensation beyond the limits of the appropriation." As a boat was spared, however, for the less important matter of going far up the river to ferry Beale across, it would appear that either the negotiations were not conducted in a proper spirit, or that Ives rather preferred a boat of his own.

The cost of building in Philadelphia the boat he used, and sending her in sections to San Francisco, and thence to the Colorado, must have been very great.

The steamer was ordered June 1, 1857, and had to be at the mouth of the Colorado by December 1st of the same year.

After a trial on the Delaware, a mill-pond compared with the Colorado, she was hastily shipped, with all her defects, by way of Panama, there being no time to make any changes.