National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-15
LOOKING OUT FOR A FREsHET.
Aspect of Affairs On the River Front
Precautions Taken Against n Flood.


The fears of freshet in the river raised by the
south wind and warm rains yesterday morning
dispeed later in the day by the rapid NIL III
the temperature, which postponed for some time
all danger of sudden rise ofthe waters.
Along the river fronts, owing to ice blockade,
it is very duh, but ample preparations have been
made to guard property against nOod. .
The Potomac Steamboat Company nave uis-
missed all It's hands from the steamers Excelsior
and George Leary and shut down all steam Inc
Alexandria and Washington Company is keeping
up steam. in order that their boats may be aole 70
resume trips Immediately upon the opening Oh
navigation
The Inland and Seabosrd Coasting Company is
also ready to take advantage of the first chance
offered.
A REPUBLICAN scribe called on the Stephenson
brothers and asked their opinions as to what
would be the result of freshet. Mr.. W. stephen
son replied: - The steamers are oil well hsrbored
and If it should come they have their wharYes ana
property protected by all preparations they can
possibly make" The wharves which would most
likely be affected by freShet are crowded with
wood and lumber nine feet high, the weight OF
which is sufficient to hold the wharveS IN their
places against water rising two feet above them,
and the wharfowners have no idea that IN tne
event of freshet it will rise higher along the
Washington river front than that.
MeSSrS Clark i Given, at the foot OF Eighth street
northwest, were next called on, and they stated
that they anticipated no trouble from freshet, in
consequence of their wharf being two feet higher
than the other wharves and the fact that the coal
and wood piled OH the wharf would hold II IN
position.
Messrs Wimsatt & Uhler anticipated no trouble
from a freshet, because they are so far back from
the other wharves and protected by them.
The Independent Ice Company expect no injury
to the Ce-hOuSes but freShet may do some IN
jury to their wharf
Mr. Handy, the superintendent of the Great Falls
Ice Company, looked forward to no trouble, except
with their engine-house and dollhouse; but i'll
case flow of ice comes against the ice-houSeS it
might damage them.
Mr. Thomas W. Riley & Co. do NOT entertain any
thQf Thpir ynor I,ai fr.Hf
They have 10000 laths 800 900 shingles. and6
feet OF lumber properly piled on their wharyeS,
sufficient to hold them against any freShet.
BlscOes wharf has about 600Uu0 lathS stacked
over ton consignment, andIMr. Biscoe eonsidershiS
wharf safe against freshet and ice breaking.
The johnson Brothers WharyeS have between 800
and 400 cords of wood stacked on them. They al
ucipate no damage to their wharyes, as they ere
made of dirt, hard packed
Carriers wharf mas several hundred cords of wood
ON IT, and, though MS wharf projects farther than
the Others and is adjacent to the Long Bridge as II
Is made of earth he expects no trouble.
The wharf foot of Seventeenth street northwest.
which projects far into the river, and is the most
westerly one, will have to stand the blast of the
homecoming ice The owners are doing all IN
their power TO protect it, and have no fears OF the
general result.
The Borden, Central Maryland. Consolidation,
and other coal companies in Georgetown arc NOV
ing their trucks and other machinery back as
far as the line of the canal in anticipation of a
freshet. 1t will be remembered that the freShet OF
1877 damaged the property of several of the coal
companies to the extent of several thousand dol
lars and they are taking time by the fOrelock.
MeSSrS. Herr & CisSel of the Columbia Mills, on
Water, near Thirty-fourth street northwest are
prepared to move their -four from their warehouse
the south side Of the street at the first indication
OF a frcShct. They have on hand about five thou
sand barrels of -four which waiting shipmentto
purchasers.
The warehouses of the New York, Alexandria,
Washington. and Georgetown steamships are
cleared of freight. and consequently no damage
car be done to their buildings.
The lumber dealers along the south side of Water
street have taken precautionary measures against
loss. All the merchants and warehouse men Oc-
cupying exposed property have taken steps to Sc
cure protection.