Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-20
ABOUT THE wHARvEs.

II has been developed that there exists q
number OF cases worthy Of charity among the
river people. A good many of the sand haulers
have had their craft tied up in James creek
canal since tho freeze set In and are in needy
circumstance This is also true Of the subs Of
stevedores and general river front laborers and
rousters.
Word 10 received that the rebuilding Of the
peoples old Washington and Norfolk steamer,
John W. Thompson. 10 being prosecuted with
vigor. She will be . new boat from her boiler
deck mp. improvements are also being made
to her machinery which. It is said, will add sew
eral miles to her speed. She is to 60 on the
Werts wharf route In opposition TO the Mattano
and George Law. Capt ". d. NOVEL;. late of
Guest. late Of the Mattano, will look after that
part OF the business. Commodore f. 8. Randall
has arranged to have Q complete electrical outfit
put In her, and, with her modern build. appii-
ances and speed, she Ii likely to have decided
advantage over her rivals. Commodore Randall
Is authority for the statement that the Thompson
will boat her shadow from Wert's wharf to
Washington by four hours
Among the probabilities ore that Chief En-
gineer Gatchell late Of the Peoples Washing
ten and Norfolk Steamboat Company, will go
as the chief engineer Of the Dos Pasos zach.
Florence, and Chief Engineer Tcnnyson, late
OF the Edmarth, will 60 with the John w.
Thompson. &c arr
Capt Beachum, the warm weather captain of
the steamer George Leary, does not expect to
command that craft next season. She will
travel as freighter on the Norfolk and WASH
ington line, and the probabilities are that one
of the first mates Of that company will be pro-
NOTED to her command.
The talk of new harbor steamer for WASH
ington is reviving This topic blossoms every
time there is a freeze, fire or a wreck. What
is needed it is said, Is q craft which shall be
nOIicp
present police boat, Joe Blackburn. is Joke.
She cannot fill her boiler without killing her
steam and she has, it is said, to undergo re-
pairs every time her crew make an arrest. She
has grown old in service. Winter water freights
to this port are high, because coastwise cap
tans and ship owners will not run the risk of a
freeze. An ice boat would remedy this. Then
there would be no fear Of food. Another
reason why the river people want boat is be-
cause large part of the shipping and docks
would be better protected from fire. When a
steamer catches FIRE at the docks there is no sal
walton for her. She Is cut loose to save the
surrounding property and towed out into the
stream beyond the reach of the land engines.
This was the case with the Corcoran and the
ferry steamer. A FIRE boat would fill the bill
here.
A large number Of the officers Of the Nor
folk and Washington propellers were at the
company's office yesterday. The questions
elect were discussed at length. They
received the congratulations Of numbers
of river folk on their fight to keep navigation
open. Heretofore it has required only
few inches Of ice to cut of COM
munication by water, but the propellers
ice and gorges. They have surrendered
to Jack Frost now and the handsome steamers
are tied up at their dock. Freight and passcn-
gers are rejected at both ends of the line.