Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18

! ice breakers and will probably not return
until late this afternoon. The steamer
Washington. Capt. Tull, of the Washington
and Norfolk Steamboat Company reached
! here on time this morning Yesterday the
| boat left Norfolk on time, but was delayed
| at Old Point for about two hours. on ac-
count of dense fog. This caused delay in
| the arrival. but only the regular running
| time of the boat consumed in making
| the trip. In conversation with a Star re
| porter Capt Tull said the steamers of this
either in the Potomac river or Chesapeake
| bay The trip up the river, he said, was
made without any difficulty.
Complains of Injustice.
Superintendent Callahan of the company
said to a Star reporter that his company
| had been unjUstly treated in the matter of
clearing the ice from the river. He said he
| thought he was unfairly criticised yester-
| day His company he said, had received no
| offer. far as he knew until $4,000 of the
appropriation had been expended on the
| tugs; Harbormaster Sutton, he said. did
ask him If he would call and see the Com
| inissioners. but did not say the Commission
| ers had sent for him.
At that time. he said he was busy and
could not leave his work. When a PROPOSE
| ton came to have his boats take part in
| the work of breaking the ice he said, there
| was $1,000 available This money was to
| pay for the work of the boat for about five
| days. The amount stated, he said, would
| not pay for getting up steam and paying
| the crew. Had the authorities been so in
| cllned, he said the boats of this company
would have broken and powdered the ice
| and cleared il out of the river, but not for
| $1,000. The company, he declared, has al
| ready spent $1,000 in the opening of the
L river, which is really of more benefit to
| the city than to the company. 1t is due TO
| the work of these steamers, he added, that
| there is a channel through the ice from
| here to the mouth of the river. This chan
mel is about 100 feet wide. and it will be of
great assistance to the other boat that
now at work on the ice. When there is ice
| in the river, such that now there, said
Superintendent Callahan, about three times
| the usual amount of coal is consumed. on
the trip of the Newport News yesterday, he
| said. 80 tons of coal were consumed. The
| breaking of the ice on this trip a re-
markable piece of work he thought and
| there were not many river steamers in this
| country that could have done the work.
Work of the Fleet.
| Harbormaster Sutton reported to the Dis
| trict Commissioners today that most effect
| i've work done by the steamer Estelle
| Randall and several tugs yesterday after
| noon in opening channel through the ice
on the river, the boats making their way
! as TAR down the stream as Alexandria. The
| harbormaster also reported that there is
| Jess danger of a flood now than there was
! Yesterday. and he is of the opinion that
| with continuance Of the prevailing condi-
| tons for two or three days longer all dan
| ger Will have passed.
The Commissioners ordered yesterday
| afternoon that in addition to tho stcamrr
| Estelle Randall the following tugs be
| gagged FOR the work: Winshp. Mohler Me
| Fadden, Garter and Minerva, al total ex-
| Pense per day for all the boats named Of
| S3l5 1t was some time after / o'clock yes
| terday when the boats got to work. and the
| success of the Randall exceeded even the
| expectations of her captain. After releas-
! ing the tugs in the Washington channel the
fleet, headed by the Randall started down
| the river, breaking channel 400 feet in
| width far down Alexandria. while
IO-fOOt opening was made in the ice in the
| Washington channel on the river front.
| The tugs closely followed the Randall,
| breaking the ice on each side of the chan
mel made by her in such a manner as to
! cause it to float down stream.
VIII Proceed to Indian Head.
1t is the intention Of Harbormaster Sutton
| to reach far down the river by the close
of todays work as Indian Head with his
| fleet TO prevent any ice gorge in front
| of the city. Then, when that Is done the
| boats will probably return to the city and
start in on the ice up as far as the Aque-
duct bridge The conditions today are con-
| Sidcred very favorable. and as the ice was
not found to be as thick strong as
was generally feared, it is confidently be-
lieved that it will be quite possible for the
| boats to reach Indian Head today. On their
| return To the city II is understood they Will
| materially widen the channel they made
going down. 1t is the belief of river men
that the down-rushing waters will render
| them great assistance.
1t was decided by the Commissioners to-
day to direct Chief Sylvester of the police
force to place special detail of his men
on guard over the Long bridge, with or
ders To instantly report any danger TO that
structure or to the city. The Commission
ers are very much encouraged by the re-
ports made to them today by Harbormaster
Sutton. and while they feel that the danger
| OF disastrous huud hourly grows less vet
they feel that they should place the police
men on guard ON the bridge until all danger
has passed.
Merchants Gratihed.
Much gratih ton was expressed today
by merchants ON PENNSYLVANIA avenue and
in the low-lying sections Of the city at the
promptness which characterized Gen. VIII
sons answer to the committee of rner-
chants who waited upon him to suggest the
plan Of blowing up the Long bridge in casa
| of danger. While Gen. Wilson exnressa5
himself finding no way in which such
| heroic action could be taken, he showed
the merchants say. that he recognized the
gravity of thu situation and the necessity
FOR some steps which would lessen the
dangers to tie people and property inter
estS of the city. Gen. Wilson Familiarity
with the subject was interesting to those
who are looking forward anxiously to tn
outcome. The prOmptness of Gen Wilson's
answer, many merchants say is in Meas
ant contrast to the red-tape sIowness which
Is so often found in official circles
One of the latest suggestions is that tho
War Department mt should take some stems
TO supplement the efforts of the Commits
siOners In the removal of ice from the river
and in the widening of the channel so as
, to lessen the dangers of the prospective
Hood. The suggestion has not been Official
iy made to the War Department, because
; II was feared that the statement would
be made that no appropriation exists to do
, inns. AT the same time it is urged that the
War Department could call the attention of
congress TO the gravity of the outlook and
p | ASK Tor an emergency augmentation II
is believed that Congress would take the
, mater up promptly if the question could
be presented in a forcible manner Just as
II promptly responded TO the requests of
the District Commissioners for an apDro-
prlation for removing the snow.
4-pproved by the President.
| tn President this morning approved the
bill making an appropriation of 5000 for
clearing the Potomac river of ice. The
| fund is Immediately available