The times., 1899-02-28
HOW A FLOOD Was
NARROWLY AVERTED
A Special Report From Har-
bOrmaster Sutton.
The River Unclaimed and Pacified
by the Ice Breakers.
The Proposed New system of Taxing
torporations-aiun AZ
fairs of One Day.

Although food was almost daily ex-
pected for week or more after the recent
blizzard few know how narrowly Wash
ington escaped such disaster. The river
was kept within its banks by the prompt
ness with which the ice was removed from
the stream In this the water was pre-
vented from backing into the sewers and
oyerfowing the streets in the lower sec
lions Of the city and the credit for this
work is due to the Harbormaster, his crew,
and assistants, who were unfaltering in
their battle with the ice The Commits
sioners highly oomplimented the Harbor
master when he presented his special re-
port on the operations of the ice breaking
feet yesterday afternoon. The report
covers the work fully and the Harbor-
master very modesuy gives the credit 10
the District Commissioners and the crew
of the ice boats. The report says:
During the severe cold weather this month
the river froze conri,teiy over to depth of
fIom eight to twelve inches. closing it to navi-
cation. Immediately there occurred several
storms unprecedented in the history Of the
District. covering the ice depth OF from
twenty to THIRTY six inches Iha>r storms We're
mol local hit extended TO the head Of the Poto-
mac. As the natural consequence oi tins grave
danger uf = food appIcit1lGcd. especially i'll
the low living sections OF the city. where severe
floods occurred at times when prospects of such
disaster were nothing like as great as on the
present occasion.
The Commissioners, approaching the danger.
promptly secured ar appropriation Of 5000 for
the purpose Of breaking The ice. NJ time was
lost in getting 10 worn and aTiaHgeIlt nts were
made for hiring all suitable available boats.
httcd out at the eEprnS' Ui their owners with
ice plows or bcaks The following boats were
engaged: Steamer Eslce Randall and tugs
Davis winship. Mohler, Minerva. Carter, Nc
Fadden. and Gilbert These boats were hired for
ten working days OF ten hours a day.
The Harbormaster then gives detailed
statement of the work, which commenced
at / O'Clock on Friday, the 18th, with the
Randall. Mohler. Winship, and Minerva,
breaking the ice in the channel between
Washington and Alexandria. Very hard
ice was encountered, but they succeeded
that day in making two trips each be
tween the two cities, cutting the channel
about four hundred feet wide. The next
day the boats went as far down the river
as Marshall Hall, each cutting a separate
channel, going and coming. The following
day the fleet, with the addition of the
Davis, started up the Washington channel
and cut out about fifty oyster vessels,
yachts. and other boats lying at the
wharves and moored in the river Then
work was begun on the Georgetown chan
mel and the feet succeeded in opening
the channel as far up as the Aqueduct
Bridge. The work was continued through
out the week, being suspended Friday
evening. The report continues:
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon Of the 29d Of
February the ice broke loose in the upper Po-
tuYnac and came down the river with strong cur
rent the tide rising about Ia feet above ordi-
nary high water BY tie time the ice began 10
come down had succeeded in providing clear
passage for it, flow beyond the Long Bridge. Fri-
day last tho ice had pretty well passed on. there
being only some drift ice coming from the upper
Potomac, and about the only work done that day
was to keep The ice clear q the Long Bridge.
In making my report of the anl1'int OF work
done would especially draw yOur attention 70 the
very prompt and decisive action OF the District
Commissioners, in my estimation II II had not
been for the manner in which they handled the
whole affair the loss To merchants and residents Of
the low lying parts OF the city would have been
incalculable. ! have also TO thank my for
the VERY ahle assistance rendered this occasion,
as well as the captains ard officers of the steam
ers employed. In the past there has been some
controversy 10 the class OF boats best adapted
to this purpose. I find that while ii is necessary
10 have boats Of good SIZE, say drawing ten feet Of
water to hEeak along the channel banks, il is also
imperative that small tugboats be used, they,
leing light draft. be utilized in breaking the
ice of the ats where the larger boats cannot 90.
also fiid that it i absolutely necessary to keep
the boats going after the ice is broken by
/ doing the ice is kept moving and with the 1s-
| sistance Of wind and tide disappears. still
| have sx Of the boats at my disposal until about
March in the event of necessity for their use.
The total cost of the work to date is S3Ags. 10,
leaving an available balance OF the appropriation
| OF 5000 Of sl,09l.55.