The evening times., 1899-02-23
RISE OF Three FEET
IN THE POTOMAC
Statement Of the River Con.
ditiOn.
Prediction of the Wea'h Bureau
Officials.
Gorees Reported at Seven Locks
Gorees Reported at Seven Locks
and Opposite Fort Wash
inRtOn.

The river situation today is more alarm
ing than at any time since the ice began
TO break.
A rise of three feet in this city is re-
ported, the gauge reading 4.9 this morn
ing at high tide.
The Potomac will continue to rise, say
the Weather Bureau officials, and will
probably reach or s feet by night. The
danger line in this city is s feet at high
tide.
At Harper's Ferry the water has risen
rs feet since yesterday morning, with some
drift ice moving quietly. The danger line
at that point is 20 feet.
The rush of ice started at Cumberland
yesterday and passed off without incident
and under rise of only few feet in the
Potomac. The river at this point is now
perfectly clear, as are also all the tributa-
ries. An immense gorge formed in the
Potomac from dam No. 6 to Doe Gully
Tunnel. 1t runs from to 10 feet in
height. Advices are that the gorge is
slowly moving and it is believed will pass
off before evening.
At Williamsport the Potomac was four
feet above its normal level yesterday.
Much of the ice which covered the river
broke up and passed off without gorging.
Another gorge is reported at Seven
Locks, which is situated between Cabin
John and Great Falls. 1t is composed
of slushy ice and would offer but sight
resistance TO a big volume of water.
AT Little Falls the water is flowing
freely, and the same conditions exist al
the Chain Bridge.
Great quantities of ice is floating down
stream in the vicinity of the Aqueduct
Bridge.
One tug of the ce-breaking fleet is sta
toned at the Long Bridge to break up any
gorge which may form at that point,
which at noon today was clear of obstruc-
| tion.
Four boats are at work on a big gorge
| which has formed opposite Fort Washing
ton. 1t is said to be causing the feet con-
siderable trouble
The weather conditions and general fore
cast state that the cold wave has moved
| southwark 10 northern Texas and east
ward TO the Mississippi River, and the
| temperatures have fallen generally
throughout the country, except in the
| northern plateau where they have again
| commenced to rise. The line of zero TEN
perature reaches into northwest Missouri
! Shows have been general from the Upper
| Missippl Valley eastward through the Ohio
Valley and the lake regions, and their con-
| tinuance this morning is mainly due 10 q
moderate depression which developed Wed
nesday night in central Kentucky. There
were also local rains Wednesday in the
Middle and South Atlantic States. and they
continued during the night on the coast.
! In the plateau and Pacific Coast regions
| fair weather has continued, except thai
there were light SHOWS and rains in the
! extreme northern portion.
Generally fair weather will prevail TO-
night and Friday from the Gulf States
northeastward, except the Ohio Valley ant
lower lake region, where SHOWS are indi'
| Gated tonight
1t will be colder tonight, except il
southern Florida. with cold wave in Ken.
lucky, southern Ohio, West Virginia, cen.
| trail Tennessee, and on the Texas coast.
Brisk westerly winds are indicated OF
| the Atlantic Coast.
Storm signals are displayed on the Texa:
coast.
Cold wave signals are displayed il
Arkansas, eastern Texas. and the Ohio Val
ley.
The following heavy precipitation (iI
| inches) has been reported during the pas
! twenty four hours: Tampa, 2.06; Quebec
104