Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-23
Volume of Water in Potomac Per
ceptibly Increased.
PROBABILITIES As 10 OVERFLOW
The Condition of Affairs at Points
Elsewhere.
rHE E LOCAL SIT Z ALTON

There has been rise in the Potomac
since yesterday of more than four feet
and a still further increase in the volume
of water is anticipated. Whether this rise
will be sufficient to cause an overflow of
the banks cannot now be stated. From
points along the line of the upper Potomac
high water is reported, although the ice
has already melted to such an extent that
much further rise is not expected.
There has been rise of more than five
feet at Harper's Ferry, but people there do
not anticipate flood. Yesterday morning
there was break in the ice at Cumber-
land, and by night the river was clear,
there being scarcely any floating ice left.
John w. Burgess, supervising carpenter
of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, report
ed an immense ice gorge in the Potomac
west of Doe Gully, near dam No g. The
ice there was from . to 10 feet high. but
as most of 1T is slush ice he fears no seri-
Gus results Last night the gorge broke and
the ice moved down the river. At Williams
port yesterday the river was four feet
hlghef than usual and was still rising.
The high water in the river here caused
considerable current yesterday, and much
of the ice from about Georgetown was car
ried down stream. Harbormaster Sutton
was able to break up the small gorges
near the Long bridge. and the ice was
sent along to points below the city The
tugs were kept busy crushing the heavy
pieces OF ice as they moved from toward
the SHORES. and in this way a serious gorge
at the bridge was probably prevented.
Floating Ice in the Basin,
In the basin there is still quantity of
floating ice with no current to carry it
away from the flats and The steamboat
docks. This morning the steamer Newport
News encountered a severe ice gorge in
the river between Fort Washington and
the River View wharf. The ice, it is stat
ed, was piled fully ten feet above the sur
face of the water On account of the
amount of slush ice there the Obstruction
was stubborn one, and the steamer being
below il some trouble was experienced in
breaking it.
A telephone message was received at the
office of Harbor Master Sutton telling of
the gorge and also of the presence there of
the Norfolk steamer. Soon after the mes
sage was received Harbor Master Sutton
started for the scene of the obstruction on
the tug Mitchell Davis, and other tugs fol-
lowed There was a break in the gorge,
however, before the tugs reached the scene
of the trouble and the steamer Newport
News resumed her journey. The tugs re-
turned to the city, but, later on, inforna-
ton was received of a possible gorge at
Fort Foote. and the tugs made a second
trip down the river. Other tugs We're en-
ployed during the day breaking ice about
the Georgetown channel.
Information received this afternoon from
Fort Washington was that besides an oc-
casional gorge there had been no trouble
from the high water. Officials about the
fort seemed to fear no damage to the gov
ernment property there on account of the
high water. The merchants whose places
are in Jackson City could see no reason to
anticipate trouble. At 3 o'c'ock the ice
was moving quietly under the Long bridge
The Potomac at Georgetown this morning
was about foot above ordinary high tide
and running with swift current. The rise
was so gradual as to be almost impercepti-
bic. There was an immense quantity of
ice that came down the stream and the
usual amount of driftwood. Up to noon the
river had not shown any Indication of COM
ing above the level of the wharves along
the river front.
had risen five feet eight inches above ord-
nary low water. This measurement was
taken at o'clock and the river then
rising at the rate of one-half to three
quarters of an inch an hour.
The general manager of the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal, Mr.. G. L. Nicolson. when
seen this morning by Star reporter
stated thai everything looked favorable
and that the ice was moving rapidly. He
was particularly happy over the fact that
no gorgeS exist. From reports received by
him from all alorg the line the last fear i'll
this respect was cleared away last night.
The following kilograms were received
here today. The first, dated Woodmont
Md, OH am. today and received at the
Senate, states:
ice gorge went out last night. River
still high"
This news is regarded at the Capitol as
being equivalent to a statement that all
danger of flood in this city is "a an end
Another, dated at Harper's Ferry, $40
am, and addressed to DR.. w. S. Harban
was as follows:
River fifteen feet above low water mark.
Continues to rise"