Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-23
ON THE RIVER FRONT
POTOMAC STEAMBOAT OWNERS
HAVE DULL FALL AND WINTER.
Wrecking Old Steamer Phlox-Prepar-
ing to Rebuild Damaged Wharves
General Marine Matters.

The steamboat managers, notwith-
standing the unfavorable conditions of
the past eight months, are optimistic and
are looking forward to good business
this spring. Last summer was wet and
cold and this killed travel on the river
and prevented the growth of fruit and
vegetables on the farms along the Po-
tomac. When fruit and grain should have
made freights heavy last fall there were
none to ship, and business was unusually
light, even about Christmas time, when
the steamers usually go and come well
laden. Then came the long freeze that
laid the river steamers up, but did not
stop expenses, although there is abso-
lutely no income from the boats. Since
the first of the year the river steamers
have made but three round trips to their
landing on the Potomac.
The wrecking of the old side wheel
steamer Phlox. formerly tender to the
u. s. Naval Academy, by the owners at
Alexandria is progressing but slowly.
The engine and boiler were taken from
the old craft during the latter part of
last year, but nearly all the woodwork is
still intact. Large quantities of fine white
pine boards have been taken from the
upper works of the boat and it has been
found the hull is perfectly sound and
seaworthy. 1t will be transferred into
barge for bay and river freighting.
Capt. Sonny Reagan has a thirty-foot
steam launch under construction at his
boat house for parties here and will have
the new craft ready for delivery to her
owners early in the summer. The boat
which will carry fifteen or twenty pas
sengers, is to be used for pleasure trips
on the river.
Booking Excursions for Summer.
The owners of the various excursion re-
sorts along the Potomac are arranging with
Sunday schools and other Organizations for
excursions to the resorts. and with good
weather the outlook for a busy season on
the river during the coming summer is ex-
cellent AS soon as the weather will allow
large forces of painters and carpenters will
be sent to the different resorts to put the
buildings and amusements in order for the
opening of the excursion season early in the
summer.
Many Of the wharf owners whose wharves
have been damaged by tie drifting ice are
arranging with the wharf builders here and
at Alexandria to start work on the struc-
lures as soon as the pile drivers can be
taken down the river.
The Baltimore and Ohio railway tug
Major Beaverton has kept her route be-
tween Alexandria and Shepherds Landing
OF the Baltimore and Ohio railway open
through the last freeze and has been able
to make transfers of freight trains of ten
cars with some regularity. The number of
trips made, however, have necessarily been
curtailed i.
The government vessels and other steam
ers in port were decorated with bunting
yesterday In honor of Washngtons birth
day anniversary
The y. s. S. Dolphin. which went to Alex
andria Sunday to take part in the celebra-
ton yesterday, was brought up to the navy
yard this morning by the naval tugs
1t is expected that the steamers of the
Potomac river lines will be able to resume
their trips the latter part of this or early in,
next week. The indications point to the
rand disappearance of the ice in the river
Owing to the river being full of ice the
steamers could not run the proposed ferry
between this city and Alexandria yester-
day. Hundreds of persons came to the
wharf expecting to find the boats running
and were much surprised when told that the
river was frozen and the boats could not
run.