Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-08
ON THE RIVER FRONT
FERRY LINE
WHARF BEING REBUILT.
Large Vessels Scarce in Port-Prepar-
ing Pleasure Launches for Service
Other Matters.

A pile-driving machine from Alexandria
and a force of wharf builders went to work
on the wharf used by the Alexandria ferry
steamer, at the foot of NJ street southwest.
yesterday. and will rebuild the structure.
The underneath portion of the structure is
to be made firm and solid, and the wharf
is to have new planking. When this work
is completed the last of the steamboat
wharves ill., the harbor will have been re-
paired to meet the requirements of the
building inspectors Office. The need of
SYSTEMATIC rebuilding of all the wharves in
the harbor is acknowledged by every one,
and when the District authorities begin
the work the piers should be so con-
structed as to require all steamboats, to lie
head on and not across the face of the
dock This would give additional room in
the harbor that is badly needed.
he receipts of oysters in the shell from
the beds OH the Potomac river are growing
heavier each day. Notwithstanding the
warm weather, and there is a good demand
for the bivaives. Prices are advancing and
the dealers were asking from SOC. to soc.
per bushel for the shellfiSh this morning.
On the fish wharf the market was but
fairly active, although there was a good
supply of taiiors, trout and butter fish from
the salt water fisheries, and catfish from
the nets on the river. Prices are steady at
about the figures of last week.
Crabs, both hard and soft-shelled, are
scarce, with fair demand. For the former
s12o to 81 per barrel is asked and for the
latter soc. to Coo. per Dozen
Watermelons are becoming very scarce
ana the demand continues fair. One YES
sci loaded with the fruit arrived yesterday.
frlces range from IS to $50 per hundred.
Inc steam barge Lily and Howard loaded
quantity of coal here and grain at Alex
anorla anu sailed. The coal is consigned to
the plle-driving machines employed in
1nt,1 10 ,alr l..
Occoquan and Pohick runs and the grain
10 the mill at Occoquan. The Lily and
howard will bring back tow of pine Dill
ing ior use IN the construction of the East
ern branch sewer
The big four-masted schooner Malcolm b
Seavey, which is discharging a cargo of ice
mere, is the only large vessel in port. This
IS the hrst time this season that big schoon-
ers nave been so scarce here. Several YES
sells with ice, Iaths, phosphate rock MA ster
ana other cargoes are reported to be at sea
ana are expected to arrive here shortly.
four cars laden with railway ties from
aiDns the line OF the Southern railway in
virginia We're received alongside the
schooner Mitchell at Alexandria Yesterday
ana Will be loaded upon that vessel to form
part OF her cargo for Boston.
n large power launch owned by Mr. Geo
richards of this city is hauled out on the
marine railway at Deane'S boat yard for
general overhauling and to be put in trim
lor service on the Potomac during the fall
d,
railway at Reagan's boat yard to receive a
new and large gasoline power engine. will
be completed. it is stated, and ready to
launch aeout the end of the week The en-
sine now being placed on the boat is larger
and more powerful and is expected to give
the launch good speed.
General Port News.
The tug Camilla of Taylor Bros fleet of
towboats has been chartered to tow sand
and gravel-laden scows for the Potomac
Dredging Company. The Camilla came into
port with her first tow of barges yesterday
The tides yesterday morning were I'M
usually full. and weatherwise riyermen saw
they foretell change in the weather and
ram can be looked for in a few days Yes
tefday afternoons tide was about foot
ABOVE Ordinary high water at this season of
the year.
Many Of the small schooners which have
loeen running watermelons to this city have
been withdrawn from that service and are
now at points down the river being made
ready to run oysters.
The longboat Peri was hauled out on the
marine railway at Alexandria yesterday
morning, had some repair work done to her
hull, and was launched again yesterday
evening She is loading a general cargo
,or river points, and will leave Alexandria
oday.
The schooner E. G. Irwin is hauled out
IN a marine railway at Baltimore to have
ner hull cleaned, caulked and painted
The officers of the steamers coming into
port from the lower Potomac report the
oyster beds along the river we'll filled with
tongers who are having considerable sue
cess. The oysters being caught are fat
and of good flavor, and do not seem to
have been injured by the spring freshets.
The steamer Dennis Simmons having I'M
loaded a part of her cargo of pine lumber
at Georgetown, has gone to Alexandria to
the unloading of her cargo
The schooners Edith VERBAL, ]. P. Robin
son and c. II. Dagger are in port with
cargoes of cord wood for the dealers.
The schooner John E. \. Cunningham
has unloaded cargo of grain from the
lower Potomac at Alexandria.