Evening star., 1902-07-31
ON THE RIVER FRONT.
FURTHER TEST OF OIL AS A
STEAM PRODUCER.
No Ice-Laden Vessels Here Harbor
Dredge Resumes Work-Gen-
eral River News.

The capabilities of oil as fuel to obtain
| intense heat and high steam pressure on
marine boiler are to be tested within the
| next day or two on the boiler at Fosburg &
Murray's wharf at the foot of Sth street
southwest. The test will be made as far
as possible under the same conditions as
would exist in the engine room of a naval
ship in active service, and will be watched
by more than ordinary interest by num-
Der Of the engineer officers of the navy.
Every pound of oil and water used Is
weighed, and analysis of the smoke is
made, in order to determine how much of
the fuel used passes Off in the smoke
vapor. Should these tests be successful it
is stated that several Of the smaller ves-
sells of the navy will be equipped with oil
burning boiler devices.
The supply of fresh fish on hand at the
18th street wharf fish houses this morning
came mainly from the fishing shores about
Virginia Beach and Old Point, and gray
trout and butterfish made up a large pro-
portion of the stock. The demand was fair
and prices are as follows: For black bass
IA to 15c per pound: bluefsh, to &C. per
pound; Spanish mackerel, 10 to 1Sc. per
pound; white perch. 10 to 12c per pound;
founders &c. per pound: sturgeon. 10 to 12c.
per pound: pan rock, to 10c. per pound; |;
boiling rock 13 to 15c. per pound; catfish, 10
to 30c. per bunch; small white perch, 10 to
l2c. per bunch; eels, 3 to sc. each; gray
trout, 81 per barrel; butterfish, $5 per bar
rel; hard-sheiled crabs, 75c. to $1.25 per bar
rel soft-shelled crabs, 10 to 2Oc per dozen,
and CLAIMS, 4oc. per dozen. Crabs are plen-
tl!ui and prices continue very low.
There are now at the oyster wharf, foot
OF lItn street, watermelons from Maryland.
been brought into port since yesterday
morning in three vessels. The melons are
all OF fine quality and flavor, and the de-
mand for them is on the increase. Today
q f1
culls. S6 to $12 per hundred for primes and
from $l4 to $50 per hundred for selected
fruit. Some few cantaloupes are also com
Ing to this market in the sailing vessels.
Inc United States revenue cutter Semi
mole Is at Baltimore to have some altera-
tion made in the position OF her pilot house
anu 10 nave some other repair work done
Inc work OF rebuilding the light house en-
sneers steamer Jessamine is now nearly
completed and the steamer will be ready
for service In week or ten days.
For the first time in six weeks or more
there are now no ice-laden vessels In port
the schooner David P. Davis having fin
lshed the unloading of her cargo yesterday
and having sailed in tow of the tug VIM
H. Yerkes. jr., for Baltimore. The schooner
l.. H. Coward. which sailed from the Ken
neDec July 26, Is at sea bound here and
barge No. 10 Is expected to arrive here
within the next day or two with cargo Of
ice.
The schooner Alice Carlisle, which has
been lying in Nomini creek for several
weeks past being caulked and overhauled.
Is about completed and will load cargo
for this market The sloop Dover is also
in Nomini hauled out on the beach for
caulking and general repair work.
A large sand scow Of the National Sand
Dredging Company is at Deans boat yard,
at Alexandria. to be rebuilt.
About the Harbor.
The breaking of the shaft working the
cutter on the dredge Gray Eagle, now at
work on the arsenal improvements has de-
layed the work for the past two or three
days. The shaft has now been replaced
with new one. and the dredge resumed
operations yesterday evening
Consolidation Coal Company's barge No.
10 has completed the loading of about
LOO tons of soft coal at Georgetown and
is now at anchor off Alexandria awaiting
the arrival Of the tug that will tow her to
Boston.
The schooner Murray vandiver is at the
wharf of T. R. Riley to complete the un-
loading or her cargo of lumber
The schooner c. c. Wheeler brought up
cargo of canned goods for the dealers here,
and not hard coal. as stated.
The schooner e. L. Bowen has arrived
In port with a full load of cord wood from
the lower river for Carter & Clark
The schooner Mcnamara Is at Alexan-
dria loading general cargo for lower river
points.
The sloop Daisy has sailed for Farming
toh' A'hu-, Win q HllSCeLdneOuS cargo 1Or
the dealers there
The new tug M. Mitchell Davis of this
city Is reported as cruising at the capes OF
Virginia on the lookout for vessels bound
TO this city and to Baltimore.
The steam launch Santa Barbara, the
tender of the Indian Head proving grounds,
was in port yesterday for a while with
Capt. Strauss, the commandant at Indian
Head, aboard. The Santa Barbara is one
of the fastest boats Of her class in the
river, and can distance many Of the larger
steamboats,.
The schooner Peri is In port with cargo
of lumber from Aqua creek for the local
dealers.
The tug Maryland, towing a large scow
laden with brickmaking clay, came into
port yesterday evening from Broad creek.
The schooner j. Smith and the bugeye j.
A. Smith came into port yesterday evening
laden with watermelons.
Mr.. George Greason, steward of the
steamer Harry Randall, is confined to his
home here by sickness.
Mr.. Emery Tull has been made mate of
the steamer Randall and has entered upon
the discharge of his duties.
ITRRARv c0MMrssroN