Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18
The Conditions Favorable for Avoid
ance of Flood.
THE WEATHER BUREAUS FORECAST
Work of Removing the Ice From
the Potomac.
P r OBJ 4 BILE r AIN "A l. l.

anything the prospects are brighter for an
escape from the extraordinary rise in the
river which has been daily expected. At
low tide reading this morning the Potomac
river here registered only eighteen inches
above mean low water, six inches lower
than yesterday. In the upper waters the
gradual thaw continues and there are no
indications Of heavy rushing Of waters
into the ice-covered stream.
The real danger of the situation as view
ed by the officials of the United States
weather bureau, is being relieved by the
action Of the District Commissioners in
having the ice in the vicinity of the Long
bridge broken and sent drifting down
stream, making way for the foes from
above and preventing a possible gorge at
that point. which could but mean dire dis
aster to Washington. So long as the ice in
this lower portion of the waterway thaws
as rapidly as that in the headwaters, or Is
broken away, thus answering the same
purpose. the government weather prophets
declare there Is no danger of a Hood IN
" Na@ningtOn- All conditions today favor d
gentle thaw up stream. giving the workers
in this vicinity ample time TO clear the river,
provided the craft employed is stanch
enough to carry on the work with the
slightest degree Of that rapidity the sItua-
ton demands.
Rainfall Predicted.
Rain will fall tonight throughout the Po-
tomac region. continuing probably tomor-
row, and being accompanied by moderate
temperatures. the thermometer being ex-
pected To range between 80 and 40 degrees.
Tn rains Will be light. Everything points
to a steady but slow thaw, which is a con-
dition that Will greatly lessen the danger
OF the present situation.
Reports received at the weather bureau
this morning state that the upper river is
still tight, although at Cumberland the ice
shows signs Of sOfteuing. The frozen surface
in this vicinity also gives every evidence of
the beginning of a thaw, so the Cumberland
report Is not regarded as at all serious.
The bureau officials are keeping a sharp
Outlook however. and the first indication
Of a rise Will be bulletined throughout the
city The river readings are taken at each
cob and Hood tide and carefully recorded.
Thr situation as d whole today is very en-
couraging.
In spite Of this the merchants doing busi-
ness ~ The lower sections of the city con-
tInue TO make Preparations for battling
with tae rushing waters should such a
itlN- become a necessity. Those who can
DO >" are moving their goods to upper
stories or to different parts of the city
Others are fitting up pumping machinery
an" preparing 10 throw up a temporary
dam about their houses Should the Hood
come il VIII not ind the city unprepared.
breaking the lee.
The work Of clearing the river Of ice is
going steadily on. with some show Of pro-
grys<. Since il is believed the das+rI,otil,,
,~ ,r. 80 - -, ~ I'm
luis "'''7' Viii Ns 4iApFdcl4caDIes
u is the general opinion that the only sal
walton of the city lies in clearing the river
AZ this point so that the ice from above
may und It's way past the dam-lke struc-
tusv connecting Washington and the entire
north with Virginia and the south.
1Hr weather throughout the whole coun-
JTy is very much the same tnda- a.. l.,
5suiugtOn-dark and gloomy and y,-itb
light rainfall. There are two stern, 60
tiers in the extreme r,,rtb I'm, - III
NOT Le f.It fr M - %. ny wiz
will c,r.-ir7I. 1,}z- -. az LioueI '''I'iI
1lr.. r-pnrrad frlr N, l,I,t IiU 10" "a
,,--Ib ~ ,-'.! I'm 1i'S qudFter IN lact
nj - ~ L,l-eI 90 some points III the
.s,.I J',l 80 lilOlie'eE ranges above the
49,. a. '-'e,
''i continues 10 JhdW, and be q
- 'a"'e P4atr OF abode The ter
80 t'7 uI-'ltIi iyoI are acceHtuated
- ~ l',IICtlIiy the same overhead.
t6r.ri, Ist5i i Ntt ana heavy, and is
- 'I NliIS III vitality, an element so
" ~. ..,,'el hy weary and weather-worn
west Emu.
a., 'i ~ 10 be no chanse IN the
-, t,,- III 'l'e vest End and many
D. .r,'' i''Jl convinced than ever
~ --'''S SH'"Idl' ana Ice
tS o""S "I'iout causing any seri-
- A'od- ftrhayS not one can be found
.,-'g92 H't D'llNNv thtt lhcro Will he
t-Se III tue river, tnt difference in opinion
ot.- as 10 tEe probable height the waters
W feaeh "Hea the high tide comes. The
S'A-E'I = tdu Al thdWlnE in this section and
q" absence "f rain are taken a : a good in
q. LtiuA ih.tt n" extra heavy rise Will mark
'- present winter.
- NJ IN" "II'r " m Washington Aqueduct
Is NSS learned by "a Star reporter this
liiiAs tAat mere mad been no perCeptible
re IN ihr river At Great Fails since the
/ port l!Ied yesterday at ] o'clock. At that
me tAt "a,tr was ~ inches above its
normal level or nearly IL feet over the
,'F OF tle Jam Al thdt point. A thaw has
- III AT ihAt place. but the general effect
'I -l Is h'i as Yet evident on the water.
r, ~ a- -As'ilaSef u l. NicOisOn Of the
!, q, - l'S,'hs anu ONO canal who was in
"a --''i'DI' SeSIeI0aS, returning In the after
80 ,-,.-i ~ gu [e-'orts tnls morning from
t-ssillI lsillI dnI rom IIiamsport. In
80. V-y..li,i - vi. ->It"!S'h' VINO relies on
m" ma .toL, ION tIit press dispatch
t..,ll7.i'i tifs Sii's ItlorulisS reSardlhg the
- 's Iile river 5tt cumberland are
Il't HlSoiIett- Ihere was nothing
'''- 'i-l-s III the situation reported 10 him.
River Mems Fears
When the river first froze over and the
@.'"i al became little heavy the river