Green’s fledgling shipping business grew rapidly, capitalizing on the Alaskan Gold Rush of 1897 to transport thousands of prospectors from Seattle to Alaska. He led the industry in later adapting his fleet to also transport automobiles across Puget Sound. The company grew rapidly and continued to dominate the Sound’s ferry traffic even after Green departed to focus on his banking interests. The fleet that Green had guided and grown into a robust maritime transportation system was eventually bought out to become the centerpiece for Washington State Ferries.
