Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-09

TURDAY, FEBRUARY
train for New York, which leaves here at
10 in the morning, got away on time to-
day, as did also the noon train, but there
is no telling when either one of them will
reach New York.
Metropolitan Branch.
On the Metropolitan and the main line of
the Baltimore and Ohio crews of men have
been Kept at work for the past thirty-six
hourssclearing away drifts, which, in many
places, are five and six feet deep. AS
sample of the depth to which the snow has
drifted at times it may be said that the
trains which were in the wreck at Branch
Vile last evening were standlng IN snow
up to the level of the car windows. The
train which left for Rockville last evening
did not reach that place until o CLOCK TINS
morning, and from all points come reports
of delayed and snowed-in trains.
Superintendent Alvey, who has taken
personal charge of the work OF keeping
the tracks clear in this vicinity, has been
hard at it for several days, and has not
had chance to go TO bed since Wednesday
night. The prediction that better weather
may be hoped for tomorrow was good news
to him, for he told a Star reporter that
never in his experience had his road had
such a hard battle with the elements. All
day long he was kept busy answering
questions of people who wanted to leave
town, and in every case he assured them
that they could get away on time, al
though they might be subjected to some
delay on the road. The suburban travellers,
who are especially numerous on the Bal
timore and Ohio were very anxious TO
know this morning whether there was any
chance of getting home this evening, and
there were very few who failed to stop at
Mr.. Alvey'S office to ask for information.
ReaSsuring promises were made to all, but
IN
out oil the different railroads. coming In
each morning and going out in the after
noon, will have an easy time OF 1t getting
home tonight.
Trains All Delayed.
All day yesterday and today crowd of
persons making anxious inquiries filled
the Baltimore and Potomac depot. There
were men, women and children in the
party Men expected their wives or chill
dren, wives were looking for their hus-
Lands, and others were awaiting the arri-
val of relatives or friends. All trains ar
irving are behind time. those from New
York being nearly twenty-four hours be-
hind the scheduled time. To add to their
anxiety today, the anxious inquirers were
told that there was wreck on the road
somewhere between Baltimore and Will
ticular enough to say that there was no
one injured in the wreck. The trouble on
the road it was said. would only cause
delay in the movement of trains.
The New York paper train due yesterday
arrived this morning, and today's train
will arrive tomorrow.
Several trains from the south reached
here during the day, and the Florida spe-
cial due here Thursday night arrived this
morning. The first local train from Alex
andria since Thursday arrived this morn
ing about . o'clock. Passengers going
no fp,,a ro nt tead thrOnRh
Baltimore only on the p. w. and B. rail-
road, while on the Northern Central road
from Baltimore they are assured through
passage as far as Harrisburg.
With the exception of the Florida trains
no trains have left here for the south, al
though it was stated that one will leave
about o'clock.
In the crowd of persons in the depot this
afternoon were many who reside only
few miles across the river but who have
not been able to leave here since Thurs
day. -s..7 4
A railroad man said to q Star reporter
that he thought the trains would not be
running on time before next Tuesday.
There ere plenty of cars here. and when
the roads are opened there will be no
trouble making up trains. =.
Nothing has been heard from Virginia
along the line of the Washington and Ohio
read between here and Round Hill. There
are two trains somewhere on the road
probably at Round Hill-but just when this
road will be cleared Is not known.
The Glen Echo Road Open.
The Glen Echo road, which was showed
under yesterday so deeply that it was
thought it would be long time before it
could be opened, was open for traffic today,
and ready for business as soon as the Ten
leytown road starts up. The drifts were
heavy but the men were kept steadily at
work until the whole road was open.
Fears of n Flood.
All the river steamers, as stated above,
have abandoned the idea of trying to force
tfeir way out through the ice, and are
lying up at their wharves
The fires on all the steamers are kept
banked in case Of an emergency, for the
river people realize that should the ice
break up rapidly it will place the boats in
a very dangerous predicament. Steam is
kept up all the time and there Is not
big boat but that Is ready to make for
down the river at the first sign Of trouble.
The most experienced river men say they
have no idea what the result will be when
a thaw comes. If the ice goes out gradual
ly it may not do much damage, but If
there should come sudden spell Of really
warm weather they are of the opinion that
a great amount of damage would be done.
In some parts of the river now the ice is
SO thick that the different companies here
are considering the plan of filling their
ice houses from the Potomac, instead OF
relying on the supply from MdlIle II Is
not often that they have an opportunity
like this, but there Is no reason to believe,
however, that ice will be cheap in Wash
iEgton next summer.
Clearing the River.
It is pretty thoroughly Understood among
the river-front people that the plan Of
dealing with the ice this year, should the
appropriation be made, will be substanti-
ally as that followed two years ago, when
the ice blockade was lifted and Washing
ton relieved from imminent danger of a
fcod The tugs plying on the Potomac
are, with one or two exceptions. not pow
erful enough to buck ice of the thickness
Of that in the Potomac, and it is under
stood that two Of these, the Harlow and
the Templar, are frozen in at Alexandria,
Just now it Is not known whether they
will be available for duty.
In any event it is thought that the har-
Dor force Will be transferred to Baltimore,
where there are q number of strong sea-
going tug, that already are armed with
the formidable ice beaks necessary for
service in blockaded waterways. fleet
of these will be fitted out and will cut
their way up the Potomac, and then be-
gin the arduous duty of grinding up the
ice in the river above Alexandria 1t will
be necessary to raise the gorge at Fort
Washington, open the Washington and