Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-20
BETTER PROSPECTS
Rise in the Potomac Not Now An
ticipated.
RIVER MEN MUCH MORE HOPEFUL
Snow Melting Gradually at All
Points Heard From.
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

| PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES
Merchants along the river front were not
| the least bit alarmed this morning over
the condition of the river, and there was
not one of them who anticipated a flood.
Not even the merchants in Jackson City
are concerned, and that place is of the
first to be damaged by high water. Up to
l O'Clock this afternoon there had been no
sign of high water, far the rivermen
could see. The warm sun yesterday and
today had affected the ice to a consider
able extent, and in many places it was
weak enough to give way under a moderate
pressure. Besides the work done by the
suns rays the breaking of the ice by the
| boats has had an excellent effect and will
go far toward preventing a flood.
Since the breaking of the ice on the lower
Potomac by the heavy steamers of the
Washington and Norfolk Steamboat Com
pany it has become possible for other
steamers to move. The crew of the steamer
Wakefield took advantage of this condition
and succeeded in making its homeward
journey, arriving here at 3 o'clock this
morning.
This steamer was ice-bound at Lower
be damaged by the moving of the ice later
on. Her coal supply was almost exhaust
ed, and provisions were low, although it
cid not become necessary for the crew TO
trouble the cargo of oysters, dressed poul-
try and other products that were intended
for local merchants. Yesterday morning
about o'clock, after the ice had be3n
chopped from about the boat, the craft
steamed out toward the channel. The ice
there was very thick, and it was not with
out considerable trouble that the channel
was reached. AS the coal was snort, q
stop made at Smiths Point, where a
big supply of wood was obtained, and by
the use of the wood the steamer was en-
abled to reach homa.
The steamer Harry Randall is still at
Chapel Point. Capt Randalls effort to
communicate with the members of the
crew have failed. Chapel Point is only two
and half miles from Bel Alton, a station
on the Popes Crack railroad, but the road
is impossible on account of the high snow
drifts.
Where the Ice is Heaviest.
Boatmen who reached here from Norfolk
on the steamer Washington this morning
report that the ice is heaviest between
PiEey Point and Smiths creek The thick
ness there is between eleven and thirteen
inches, and the ice is solid. There was con-
siderable floating ice in the bay, but this
has all cleared away, and no trouble what
ever is being experienced by the Norfolk
steamers in reaching Norfolk and Old Point.
This is the beginning of the spring season
at Old Point and Virginia Beach, and many
people from the north are now going to
these places by way of the Washington
line of steamers. Because Of the binding
snoWstOTm the boats lost three trips. Had
there been nothing but ice, Manager Cal
lahan says, the boats would never have
stopped.
Points Above.
From up the river comes the informa-
ton that the ice is melting almost as rapid
ly it is about the city, The thaw, how
ever, has been so gradual that the increase
in the water volume has been very slight.
Al Harpers Ferry there has been rise of
only five inches since the thaw set in, and
the present weather there does not portend
any trouble. Between Harper's Ferry and
this city several breaks in the ice are re-
ported, but at no point does the condition
of the river appear anything like danger
Gus.
At the request of the merchants involv-
ed the District Commissioners have direct
ed the police department to permit mer-
chants on Pennsylvania avenue to store on
the sidewalks the goods taken from their
cellars provided they leave an open space
in the middle of the sidewalks ten feet in
width.
No DiscOuraEing Reports.
Mr.. 6. L. Nicolson, the general manager
of the Chesapeake canal, has not as yet re-
| ceived any dscouraging reports. AS a pre-
caution for the safety of the canal in case
of extra heavy rise in the river he has
men stationed at all of the principal points
between here and Cumberland. His in
structions to the watchers were to send
nothing more unless the river commenced
TO rise. No reports were received this
morning, and this is taken as an indication
that there is no change in the situation.
The river at this time of the year" said
Mr.. Nicolsou to a Star reporter, lis away
| below its normal This is probably due to
the fact that all of the small streams which
feed it in the Shenandoah region are tight
ly frozen over. The gradual melting with
out rain, will do very little damage in the
river: that is, il will not cause it to rise so
much. II rain should happen it would
cause about twice the quantity of water to
flow in the river. and this would make
things look bad -
At Washington Aqueduct.
At the Office of the Washington Aaueduct
it was found that the river had risen four
and half inches since Saturday at the
dam at Great Falls, making total rise of
an even foot above low water. This, how
| ever, was not regarded of any special
interest The report received this morning
stated that the river was rising slowly at
the dam.
Later reports received today at the Wash
lngton aqueduct state that the water at
| Great Falls, which mas been perfectly clear
| up To this time, had begun to get muddy
| This is probably the advance portion of the
surplus water of the upper regions, and
resumes its normal condition.
Naval Battalion in Service.
The following two orders, each issued
today, explain themselves:
Special orders No. 10.
Il. The commanding officer of the Naval
Battalion is directed to issue such orders
and take such precautions as may be
necessary, in view of a probable freshet in
the Potomac, to save life and property in
any threatened submerged portion Of
| the District of Columbia.
| BY command of Brig. Gen. Harries
| "(Signed) EDWARD +. RIGGS
Acting Adjutant General"
| Order Pursuant to orders issued this
| date from headquarters District of Column
| bia Militia, the entire enlisted force of the
| Naval Battalion will assemble on board
| this ship al o'clock pm, Tuesday, Febru-
| AIRY II. 1899.
| BY order of the comma nding officer
IS. g. HOPKINS,
| Lieut.. and Executive Officer, L. S, S.
| Fern
| Weather Bureau Report.
| The weather bureau has received no re-
| ports concerning the condition of the river