Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-26
ALONG THE river ER0M
"NoN-sINkABLE AND NoN-cAPs1z-
ABLE LIFEBOAT ON EXHIBITION.
Inventor Getting 1t Ready for Ship
ment to Paris-General and
Personal News.

Mr. John Dickerson, the inventor and
patentee of "non-sinkable and non-cap-
STABLE lifeboat has one Of his boats at
the Randall line wharf, foot of sth street.
where he is painting 1T and getting 1t in
order to be taken to the Paris exposition.
1t is Mr.. Dickinson's plan to give exhibit
lions of the qualities of his craft on the
River Seine and for the purpose Of launch
ing it into the water he has had Especial
design chute built, and Is also fitting that
up preparatory to sending it to Paris.
Mr.. E. L. Motherall is having some al
terations made in his new idea air-cushion
boat preparatory to taking her out for an
ether trial. Mr.. Motherall and those inter-
ested with him in the scheme are confident
the boat on her next trial will develop high
speed.
Though the work of deepening the chan
mel of the river over the shoal Mattawonan
flats, near Indian Head. is progressing rap
Idly, SO large a quantity Of mud has to be
removed that there is still several months
work to be done before the twenty-four feet
depth required over the entire flats is OBJ
tanned. When this work is completed the
dredging of the kettle bottoms will be done
The contractors for the erection of the
new officers quarters and barracks at Fort
Hunt, Va. have large force of men at
work on the old wharf at the foot of 14th
street. framing the new buildings and get
ting the materials for them ready me
entire framework of the buildings Is put IN
shape there, so that when the material
reaches Fort Hunt nothing remains to be
done but put the frames in place. Every
piece is made to fit before 1t leaves, so
that no cutting has to be done at the fort.
The tug James o. Carter sailed for the
Indian Head naval proving grounds this
morning, having on board two representa-
tives of the American Ordnance Company.
who go there to witness the test of a new
rapid-fire gun.
The schooner Isaac N. Keslin from jack
sonville. Fla, with a cargo of 100000 feet
of Florida pine lumber for Johnson & VIM
satt Is anchored off Alexandria, where she
arrived this morning iE tow Of the tug Ca
mkla She will be taken to Libby q Co. s
wharveS in Georgetown to discharge her
cargo.
The Norfolk and Washington line steamer
this morning brought up fifty barrels Of
fish for the local dealers The hot weather
has caused drop in the prices. This morn
ing trout sold al $3.50 to 81 per barrel: but
ter fish, 81 per barrel: bluefsh and taylors.
at 4 cents per pound, and mackerel. at II
cents per pound Hard crabs are bringing
81 per barrel. Soft-shell crabs are very
scarce and high.
The Navy Department is having extensive
repairs and improvements made to the
United States naval powder magazine on
the District side of the river about half
way between this city and Alexandria.
Many of the vessels which have been
employed in bringing fish to this market
cantaloupe trade, which will begin very
shortly.
There has not been oyster vessel In
port for the past five weeks. All the oys-
tiers now arriving come in barrels on the
steamers from down the river.