Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
PROSPECTIVE CHANGES IN COAST
SURVEY SERVICE.
Can't. HOdgkin to Retire From the
Steamer Blake-FOrest Fires
in Virginia.

Captain Hodgkin Of the coast survey
steamer Blake will be relieved of his COM
mand soon by Captain Welker of the
United States coast survey steamer Bache.
The Blake has arrived at Baltimore, and
will coal UP in order to be ready to sail
for Portsmouth, n. H.; Monday, where she
goes TO make some surveys. After these
are completed she will go to Boston for
general overhauling. Captain Hodgkin
will be assigned to shore duty in charge of
the party which will survey the new
Mason and Dixon line, between Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland.
Incoming steamers report three large for
est fires near the river in Prince George
Stafford and Westmoreand counties, Va,
all of which have been raging for several
weeks. Large tracts of timber have been
burned over in all these counties, and much
damage has been done, but how much can
lot be ascertained. The fire in Westmore-
land county was the most destructive. much
damage having. been done in the neighbor
hood of Oak Grove. On the farm of Mr..
Lawrence Washington the dwelling house,
containing valuable old furniture. a large
barn in which new crop of hay was
stored, farming implements, etc. were de-
stroyed.
Forty barrels of salt water fish were
brought up the Norfolk and Washing
ton line steamer this morning for the deal
ers at the wharf, from the nets about Old
ing sold at $50 to $3.50 per barrel: blue
fish and tailors brought &c. per pound;
mackerel, 1Oc. per pound, and sheepShead
SC. per pound. From the nets in the river
the steamer Randall brought up six barrels
and the steamer Westmoreland five. Rock
fish sold at &c. to Toe. per pound; white
perch at sc. to 1Oc. bass at 1Oc. per pound,
and cat fish at 2Oc. to 25c. per bunch.
About twenty barrels of hard crabs were
also received and sold at $50 to 81 per
barrel.
Since yesterday the Benjamin Franklin,
with 100 bushels of Machodoc oysters and
the Winnie Windsor, with 22J bushels from
Blackstone Island. have arrived in port.
The demand for oysters has been SO heavy
that both vessels were sold out this morn
ing, and there is not an oyster at the
wharf
There are but few watermelons in port,
but several vessels laden with the melons
are expected here in the next day or two.
Testing the Big Guns.
The United States naval tug Tecumseh,
with the barge from the Indian Head prov
Ing grounds in tow, yesterday took one of
the large guns recently manufactured at
the ordinance works here to Indian Head
for testing.
The new government powder making
plant in Charles county, Nd. near Indian
Head is giving employment to hundreds of
the residents Of that section. Farmers
about Glymont say 1T is impossible to get
farm help, and many of the farms are not
now being worked at all, employment in the
powder factory being more profitable.
Vessels With Freight.
The four-masted schooner Augustus Hunt
arrived in port this morning in tow Of the
tug Camilla with cargo Of 1,6S1 tons of
ice for the American Ice Company. The
Hunt sailed from the Kennebec Septem-
Der f.
The steamer E. JOS Tull, with a cargo of
about 10000 feet of Virginia pine lumber
from Aqua creek is in port for Johnson
& Wimsatt
The steamer Wakefield sailed this morn
ing with a cargo of supplies for the stores
at points on the river.
The schooner James S. Beecher has sailed
for Baltimore to load coal to Boston at 81
per ton.
The pungy Julia and Annie sailed last
night for Sheridan Point with cargo of
heavy timbers for the building operations
at Fort Hunt.
The pungy Ada Ballinger has been fitted
out for the oyster trade, and has sailed for
the lower river with a cargo of coal. She
will return with oysters.
The schooner Jos. B. Anderson has COM
pleted the discharging of her cargo of lum-
Der and will sail at once for Norfolk.
The Weems line steamer northumberland
arrived in port this morning with a heavy
cargo from Baltimore and river points for
the local merchants.
The long boat Peri IS in port with cargo
of lumber for Johnson & Wimsatt from
Aqua creek.
The steamer Lily and Howard has arrived
in port with a cargo of washed gravel from
OccOQuan bay.
The schooners Mary Elvis and the Agnes
both sailed from this port yesterday even
ing for Alexandra where they took on car
goes of coal for the lower river.
The schooner E. p. Evans and the bugeye
Minnie Windsor have sailed for the lower
river to load oysters for this port, and the
Silver Star sailed for cargo of wood.
The three-macted schooner Alice Carlyle
arrived in port last night with cord wood
for Robert Murphy. She is discharging on
the James Creek canal.
General and Personal.
The tug George w. Pride was hauled out
at the Alexandria shipyard for some re-
pairs to her hull. She was put overheard
again Wednesday evening.
CHAMBERLAIN d Son have nearly completed
the 150-foot flag staff to be erected the
high hills at Fort Myer, Va. The pole is
In three sections and will be one of the
tallest about here.
The sailing yacht Seabelle, which has
had twelve feet added to her length at
Burnett's, is nearly ready for her lead keel.
This Will weigh about six tons.
The steam launch Allie Moore took
party of Alexandrians a fishing trip to
the White House landing and Gunston We'd
neSday afternoon.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul of st.
Aloysius Church will give excursion to
Chapel Point tomorrow.
Capt. Ollie Crowder, who was in COM
mand of the Inflated tug Tempar when
she blew up in Baltimore harbor, Ia on the
tug NJ. Nj. Davis for trip. Capt Taylor
has remained ashore in consequence of
sickness in his family.
Mr.. Frank Guest who has been the ship
ping clerk of the Randall line for the past
three months, has resigned.
Mr.. Daniel Callahan, agent at Norfolk of
the Norfolk and Washington line Of steam
ers was at the general office of the COM
pany here yesterday.
Capt John Wiser of the schooner General
Hardcastle is I'm Baltimore on a business
trip.
Officer John Perry Of the harbor force
is still confined to his home by an attack
of intermittent fever.
Mrs. Barker, wife of Capt Barker of the
steamer Harry Randall has recovered from
her recent attack Of typhoid fever and with
her children has gone to Elmira, N. Y, to
recuperate.
Capt. w. /. Vinal, comma nding the United
States coast survey steamer Matchless has
been assigned to the command of the
steamer Bache. succeeding Capt. Walker
The houseboat Arcadia, which drifted
from Four Mile run and went ashore on
the flats near the United States naval mag
aZine has been hauled off and anchored