Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12
AFFAIRS ;4N-~GEORGEIOWN
Waterways and Canals Dry and Nsviga-
ton Stopped.
Many Local Notes of Interest to Citi-
Personal Mention

For years there has not been such a
drought in the upper canal region as exists
at present. The Oldest Inhabitants even go
SO far as to say that the canal has not
been similarly affected since its establish
ment, over sixty years ago. The Potomac
up abe ut Cumberland Is almost dry. In
places the bottom is visible from shore to
shore. and there is no flow into the canal.
The little water seen in .other places ap-
pears to be moveless.1 Navigation has prac-
tically been suspended. For days there
have been no cargoes shipped greater than
thirty-eight tons-onetthifd of regular
cargo. General Manager Nicolson of the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal confirms the
truth of these reports About Cumberland,
he says the river bed is absolutely dry,
and ten miles down the, course OF the
stream only enough water Scan be damned
to run ore pump two hours out OF twenty
four This pump has been On position since
1872, and this is the first time that there
has not been water enough to satisfy its
capacity completely. What little water is
here is of a nauseatng quality; so thick
with mud that duck conldn't swim In 1t.
Down toward Williamsport the depth of
the water in the canal increases, ranging
from one and half to two and half feet
Under favorable conditions there are SIX
feet of water in the great trough.
There has begun to be suffering in the
Cumberland region, particularly among
cattle. The wells, etc, are being forced
Capt. PaSSeno, for years g. rtverman or this
section, but who of late has been running
boats on Drummond lake and the Dismal
Swamp canal. was in town this morning on
business, and, in conversation with Star
reporter, said that the drought in that
section of Virginia was beyond anything on
record.
Drummond lake is almost absolutely dry.
while the bed of the canal Is hard and full
OF cracks. There Is navigation there.
A Kindergarten.
In the Blunt School building, on street
kindergarten school for the public has
been established, under the auspices of the
Society of Friends. Miss N. D. Moote is in
charge. This Is the same school that was
forced out Of the High street building.
Children from three to five years of age
are qualified to enter
The school is designed to prepare children
FOR entry to the first grade. At present the
membership consists of ten little tots"
Fifteen or twenty more can be accommo-
dated. Supervising Principal Janney is
looking with much favor on the school, and
hopes that parents will at once avail them
selves of the generosity of the Friends.
The largest crowd yet present greeted
Mr.. Neighbor at the Baptist revival last
night. The interest is deepening steadily
Two professions were made and a number
stood for prayer.
Many improvements.
DR.. L. w. ,Ritchie has begun twenty-
thousand-dollar improvement on M street
near the aqueduct, adjoining the Key man.
sion. Stores and dwellings will be put up.
Excavations are now going on.
= There is concentration of activity in
this section. With the union depot con-
structors and men engaged in other i'm
provements near two hundred Workmen
are daily on the hustle
Conservative men say Georgetown is on
the eve Of big boom, and predict some
early and heavy operations that will sur.
prise the people. She is taking strides now
in that direction that are apparent to
every one. but these are said to be but
baby steps.