Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-21
ON THE RIVER FRONT
NEW BUILDING TO REPLACE
BURNED STRUCTURE.
High Speed Launch Nearly Completed
Schooner for Alexandria Sent
Observation-Disclosures Matters.

The burned buildings on the wharf Of the
American Ice Company, at the foot of 9th
street, have been torn down and the ground
cleared to make room for a new blacksmith
shop and feed mill for the ice company.
The erection Of the buildings will be started
as soon as the building lines are fixed by
the District engineers Office.
The building of new power launch fitted
with new type of propeller wheel is about
completed at Rayner's boat house, at the
foot of 9th street, and the little craft will be
put overload in the spring. The type Of
wheel with which she is fitted is expected
to give the boat phenominally high speed.
and her trials are awaited with interest.
The demand for fresh fish was quite light
this morning at the 18th street wharf fish
market and the supply was very light, lit
tie except jumping mullets being on sale.
Some few fresh shad from Florida waters
came to the dealers by express and sold at
low prices for the season. The fishermen
have their nets ready for work on the Po-
tomac as soon as the river opens.
Oysters are coming to the dealers from
Chesapeake bay about Norfolk and Old
Point. though a few are coming from the
north. This morning the Norfolk line
steamer had aboard about forty barrels Of
oysters in the shell and about 200 gallons
of shucked oysters for the local market.
The warmer weather has made the demand
somewhat lighter. but prices remain firm.
The repairs to the Ice breaking plough and
the metal on the side Of the hull Of the
steamer Estelle Randall, which was dam
aged while running through the heavy ice
Monday, will be completed today, but the
steamer will not be sent back on her route
to Glymont until the ice softens. though she
may attempt to reach Fort Washington to-
morrow. The Fort Washington tug Gibbon
will also be ready for service today, but 1t
is also understood that she will remain here
for a day or two until she can run without
damaging herself in the ice.
OF General Interest.
The schooner Edith G. Allen. laden with
phosphate rock from Punta Gorda, Fla,
for Alexandria, was in the Potomac for
several days last week, but being unable
to reach Alexandria her orders were
changed, and she will go to Carteret, N. J.,
to unload.
The bark Essex, with a cargo Of lumber
for this city. was lying in barber in the
Patuxent river at last reports, waiting an
opportunity to come up the Potomac.
The lighthouse tender Holly, Capt. Miles.
which attempted to leave Baltimore yester-
day in order to replace missing buoys, was
caught in the ice at the mouth of the Pa
tuXent river and was forced ashore in
Sparrow's Point. The Baltimore iceboat
came to her rescue and cut her out of the
more favorable opportunity for resuming
her work.
The naval tugs running between the
naval ordnance foundry here and the prov
Ing grounds at Indian Head are carrying
the daily supply Of fresh provisions for the
use of the soldiers at Fort Washington to
that point. stopping there on their way
down the river The tugs will, 1t is stated,
continue this service until the tug sta
toned at the fort is able to resume her
trips.
The tugs Radiant and Yerkes, which left
here Tuesday with tow of light oil barges
for Baltimore, were reported lying in Po-
tomac creek by the officers of the Norfolk
line steamer which arrived here yesterday
morning. They also report having run into
ice at Point Lookout and found 1t all the
way up the river. They report the ice not
being as hard as 1t was earlier in the week.
The War Departments launch Mercedes,
which was so nearly submerged in her berth
yesterday morning, is again in good condi-
ton.
The engine, boiler and hull of the Weems
Line steamer Lancaster are to be given a
thorough overhauling to put the steamer in
the best of order for service next spring.
The harbor police boat Vigilant is having
her boiler cleaned and some minor work
done in preparation for going out with the
ice-breaking fleet as soon as Commodore