Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-15
THE POTOMAC ICE
President Has Signed the Bill for
Clearing River.
Two BALTIMORE TUGS SELECTED
Local Boats Have Chance OF
Doing Some Work.
COMMISSIONERS STATEMENT

The congressional appropriation of $1,000
for clearing the Potomac river Of ice was
made available this morning, the President
having signed the joint resolution making
the provision as soon as it was presented
to him. Word of the Presidents action
as Immediately telephoned to the Office
of the District Commissioners In order
that they should not be delayed in their
action in the matter.
The Commissioners this afternoon set
tied the matter of securing tug boats to be
put at the work of clearing the ice. The
contract will be let to the Baltimore boats.
Their reason for doing this is the claim
that the local boats are not large enough
to do effective service with such thick ice.
This decision of the Commissioners will
not give much satisfaction to the local
river men, for they have been at the Dis
trict building every day this week In an
effort to secure the job for Washington
boats. They have put forward the claims
of their boats and insisted that these have
abundantly demonstrated In years past
their ability to cope with all the diiiicui-
ties that the Potomac may present
Their agreement was printed In The Star
yesterday, together with that submitted by
the Baltimore men. The bid of the latter
was for $3.50 day for two boats. the num-
Der decided upon, but with the understand
less than ten days, as this job would neces-
state the cancellng of other contracts. as
well as the expense of bringing the boats
around from Baltimore. The services or
the United States tug Triton are also to be
enlisted, and sop is held out to the local
boat owners in the suggestion of the Com
missioners that they may be able to employ
Washington craft to aid in the work In
connection with the larger boats.
Their Statement.
In order that they may not be misunder-
Stood the Commissioners this afternoon
made public the following statement in re-
| gard to their action:
'"The Commissioners, after full con-
sideration of the problem of getting rid of
| the ice in the Potomac river, and after
consultation with the harbormaster and
many other people VINO are conversant with
| the subject, have decided that 1T will be
necessary to employ a very large and
| strong tug to have any effect upon the ice
| in the river. They have, therefore, secured
| the services of the Hercules. of 154 tons.
| length 1l2 feet, and the Vulcan, 62 tons,
| length S6 feet, of Baltimore They have
made such arrangements as they can rely
upon for the services of these boats at
| Washington not later than Tuesday next.
Secretary of the Navy to furnish to the
District the use of the Triton and have
already made a contract for the, equip
ment of this boat with a suitable Prov at
| the earliest pCSSlDle uate Will Sii-
able the Commissioners to employ other
| craft belonging to the city of Washington
| to aid these vessels in case further assist
ance should be necessary. They had
| conference with the owners of the Templar
| and the M. IS. Harlow, and will take their
| offer into consideration, together with an
| offer made by the owners of the William
| H. Mohler, the d. w. Keyes. the A. P.
| German and Minerva, all of which are
smaller boats and may be used with boats
| Of large capacity. The testimony of all
| of the owners of all the tugs is to the
effect that ore large boat of the type OF
| the Hercules at least is necessary to en-
able the others to do effective work.
Better Condition.
There is a slight Improvement IN the
situation on the river today due to the
| gradual thaw, and the hope which this
| fact awakens, that 1t may continue. NO
movement can be made yet by the river
| craft. Nothing had been heard at the
deck of the Norfolk and Washington Steam
boat Company up to late this afternoon
from Superintendent John Callahan, as to
whether the propeller Washington, with
her heavy cargo of freight, Is to be Iorced
| I'D the river. 1t is thought that with a
| day or two more of this kind of weather
| the feat can be accomplished. The Nor
| folk is still at her DOCK and no effort will
be made to move her till word comes from
| Slluerintendent Callahan. The harbor Lo-
lice are talking strongly of the urgent need
| for a harbor boat to replace the steam
| Yacht Joe Blac ckburn, which shall combine
the qualities of a patrol boat, fire boat and
| to-