The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-15

floor The whole wharf would bayc been
J,ited no. The Botanical Gardens and The
grounds west filed With water, and this
caused a serious and what camc near being
q fatal sccidcnt.
Aser the Frcshet.
twashington Post. 14thI
The food OF saturday was the one topic
OF conversation in the city Sunday. The
food subsidized, as far as the city was con.
cerned, as quickly as II bad risen. and by IL
o'clock The water had entirely disappear ed
from the streets. This sudden recession OF
the flood was due To three causes combined-
viz, the destruction OF part OF the Long
bridge, which opened a channel; the ebb
OF the tide, and the strong northwest
wind, which drove the water down The
stream. The streets dried quickly, and by
| o'clock were In a very passable condition.
The railroads have made arrangements Tor
southern connections, and travel VIII now
be resumed II Is extremely bard TO esti-
mate the damage, but the following Is given
as the neare,t yet obtainable: To the Long
bridge, 1926. 900; to the merchants, resi-
dents, and market-dealers in The submerged
district, 100000; in Georgetown, between
$50 900 and 100000. The damage along
the river front cannot be estimated until al
fairs resume their normal state. The hres
in the Botanical Gardens were started early
Yesterday morning, as soon a. the wafer bad
gone down, and 1t Is thought that the plants
have escaped without very much injury.
THE DAMAGE TO THE BRIDGE.
There was great rush OF spectators at
the Long bridge yesterday to see the effects
Of the ice upon that ancient structure. They
bebeld wild and not unpic!uresgue sight.
A section OF the bridge about 100 feet long
bsd been swept bodily from the piers, and
had been carried on the ice about 200 yards
down The river, aud lay on its side on the
surface Of the river. The tecgraph-poIes
and wires were still on the topof the bridge,
and none OF It's timbcrs appeared 10 be lOs'.
Tue ice had crow ded in aud around the tops
OF the piers. and had IL not been for the por.
lions on each end OF the gap, It would have
been impossible to tell that bridge had
been there at all. The ice was ilmmed up
and spread over The cIuseway almost It's en-
tire length. over in the GEORGETOWN c1an-
mel near the Virginia shore the water was
running freely, and sparkled and CLEANED
In the sunlight. tran under the draw, but
il could be seen that that structure had been
twisted considerably ont OF plumb by the
immense pressure OF the ice.
Mr. G.. c. wilkins, the supei lniendent OF
The Baltimore and Potomac railroad and OF
The Alexandria and Fredericksburg road,
during the DAY made an inspection OF the
bridge, and estimated that it would cost
Sl25. 900 to repair the damages. Not only
the portion OF the bridge which was car
ried away will have to be rebuilt, but also
the cluseway. The draw will entail con-
siderable outlay To restore 1t TO CONDITION
tit 10 travel. The ice above presented
solid mass for considerable distance, Out
about GEORGETOWN there was clear water.
Below the ice was hoaped up on The Hats 10
considerable height. The spectators found
amusement in watching the men crossing
over on the ice in search Of DRIFT wood.
The necessary lumber to reconstruct The
damaged causeway is already on the eyound.
This morning; il possible. tug Will he Sc
cured In Alexlndris. and corps Of ongi-
necrs VIII be brought up TO The Virginia
side OF the bridge to make thorough en-
animation. AS soon as possible the WORK
Of repair will he begun, and IL will certainly
be finished by the An OF March.