Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-11
ON THE RIVER FRONT
ARMY LIGHTER PoNToNIER LAID
UP FOR WINTER.
Cargo Of Christmas Trees Arrivss-s
What Tugboats Are Doing-Gen-
eral Marine Matters

me United States army engineer depart.
ment lighter Pontonier, which has been as
signed to duty as tender to the engineers
battalion at Washington barracks. will
not, 1t is stated, see any service on the
river this winter. The engineer aboard
her are engaged In preparing her for lay
Ing up until next spring. The crew which
brought her to this city nave gone to their
homes. and the new master and engineers
VIII not be named until the vessel is again
ready for service. 1t Is believed to be
probable that the present crew Of the
lighter kearney will be transferred to the
newer craft. What use will be made Of
the Kearney is not known
Business at the wholesale fish market
on the wharf was unusually dun this
morning. the supply of fresh fish on hand
being light and the demand very small.
The market Is lower In price than for sew
eral weeks past and Is going lower
Oysters are in demand but the supply
Is very small. Two or three small vessels
came into port last night. but they bring
small cargoes OF the oysters, Prices range
from 65 cents to $1.25 per bushei
Ducks are more plentiful this morning
than they have been for several days and
are selling slowly. Prices remain firm and
high.
hundred Christmas trees and green stun
Tor decorative purposes sailed into port
yesterday afternoon. The trees came from
lower Maryland.
The new tugboat built at Solomon's Is
land. Nd. for John Miller of this city is
at a machine shop at Baltimore to he sup
piled with boiler and machinery and made
ready for service on the Potomac. The
tug, 1t is expected, will be ready for duty
early IN the spring. She will be used to
tow brick and clay-ladeu scows from Broad
creek, Md, to this city.
General Port News.
The little harbor tug Bartholdi has been
fitted with an Ice plow and is ready to
break ice should any oppose her progress.
The steam launch Doc Reh has been char
tered as the. tender to be used In the new
railway bridge work
The tug VIM. II. Yerkes tr since the
close of the towing ason on the Potomac
has been engaged in general towing on
Chesapeake bay, and will possibly not re-
turn to service on the river before next
spring.
The outside work the new morgue
building has been completed and the work
men are engaged In putting the lathes and
plaster on the interior of the structure
Rivermen state that the water In the Po-
tomac is 80 thoroughly chilled that IL would
require but day or two of cold weather to
cover 1t with a heavy sheet of ice
The Baltimore tug Volunteer came into
port last night with the barge Sharon Hill,
loaded with coal, and sailed for Newport
News. with the three masted schooner H
b. Thompson. which unloaded cargo OF
asphalt at this city from the Island of Trim
load. The schooner Sidonia Curley with
ABOUT l2loO0 feet OF lumber from the James
river. the Two Brothers. with about 90 600
feet from the Rappahannock river and the
Hester A. Waters, with about $1,000 feet
from Alexandria, came into port yesterday.
ihe ram schooner Thos. ]. Shryock with
lumber and shingles, from North Carolina
has arrived at Alexandria.
The Saml. Wood Uriah Horner and Isa-
belie, laden with cord wood. have arrived
here from the lower Potomac
The barge Howard is at Alexandria with
a cargo OF phosphate rock from Baltimore
TO be used In the manufacture of fertfIisers