Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-09
ON THE RIVER FRONT
OIL FUEL BOILER HOUSE BEING
TAKEN DOWN.
Overhauling Steamer Samuel j. Pentz-
Shipments Of New Corn Coming
General Marine News.

The iron house which covered the Oil fuel
boiler of the Oil City (Pa.) boiler works, on
the wharf of Forsburg & Murray, at the
foot of X street southwest, for the past two
years, Is being taken down and will be sent
back to Pennsylvania. This plant was used
In the recent experiments by the Navy
Department to determine the value of oil as
compared with coal as fuel for producing
steam. Since the conclusion of the expert
ments it has been lying idle.
The sixty-foot smokestack was taken
down in one piece a day or two ago. and
when on the ground, was cut into three Sec
tons for shipment.
While there was a fair stock of rock.
bass and mullets and other river-caugnt
fish on sale at the market on the 18th street
wharf. the demand was light rock being
about the only variety selling readily
Eight or ten oyster-laden boats were
lying at the wharf market this morning,
but the demand for oysters was light.
Prices ranged from Coo. ito 75c. for small
stock and from soc. up to $1.25 for the
larger and finer varieties.
The receipts of wild ducks of all kinds
from North Carolina was heavy this mort
ing; but the market for them was poor.
The birds are in fine condition. the canvas
backs being as large and heavy as has
been seen in this market this season.
Carpenters are aboard the Steamers Sam1
J. Pentz overha uling the boat and putting
her In order for service The steamer will
leave here early in the spring for the New
port News shipyard to have new main
shaft put in to replace the one broken on the
closing excursion of the summer season.
The shipments of the seasons corn crop
from the lower Potomac to the dealers here
has commenced and on every trip of the
steamers from down river points several
hundred bushels of the grain are brought
&c r@lx; ~
mills or Alexandria and vicinity. 1t is stat
ed that the corn crop in the river counties
of Maryland and Virginia was larger this
year than it has been for several years.
General Marine News.
Fogs are giving the steamboat men con-
siderable trouble in the early hours Of the
morning. The fog yesterday is said to
have covered the river almost its entire
length.
The building of the ice-breakng plough
for the tug Gibbon, the tender to the
army posts on the river, will be begun in q
few days, and VII be placed on the boat
as soon as finished. The Gibbon will, il
possible, be kept. on the route between this
city and Fort Washington throughout the
winter.
The lighthouse tender Violet, which is at
a Baltimore shipyard for new boiler and
repair work. will. it 8 stated, be out OF
commission until next spring. When she
returns to service the steamer will be
practically a new boat.
MiIler's dredging machine has gone to
Deans boat yard at Alexandria, and 10
deepening the water In front OF the boat
yard for the construction OF the new marine
railway to be built there during the winter
months.
There have been fewer ducks seen on the
river this season than for many years
past The steamboat officers report they
have not sighted q bird on the river for