Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-12
ON THE RIVER FRONT
FREEZE VERY PROBABLE.
Supplies for Potomac Army Posts
Tow Of Oil Barges Arrives
General News.

Rivermen are fearful that the heavy
snowstorm of yesterday evening and last
night means further thickening Of the ice
in the river and defers the opening OF navf-
cation to the smaller craft on the Potomac.
Sunday afternoon and yesterday the broken
ice below this city was moving with the
tides few days more Of the warmer
weather and it is probable the Ice would
have softened sufficiently to allow the
steamers to move freely, but with the water
full of floating snow and a probable fall of
the temperature coming no immediate re-
sumption of navigation can be looked for.
Old watermen are comparing the winter
with one about twelve or. fifteen years ago,
when the river was closed to navigation
over six weeks.
The depot quartermaster of the United
States army here is daily shipping large
quantities OF commissary stores of all kinds
to Fort Washington and Fort Hunt in prep
aration for the entire closing of the river to
navigation. Fort Washington Is almost en-
tirely dependent on the river for Its COM
munication with the outside world. but Fort
Hunt is more fortunate, having an electric
railway to Alexandria and this city almost
at it's gates. A large quantity of stores were
taken to Fort Washington by the steamer
on her trip today.
The receipts Of fresh fish by the dealers
ing than they have been for several days
and the demand was also fair. at prices
above the average.
About twenty-five bushels OF Potomac
river oysters was the entire stock aboard
the fleet of vessels lying at the wharf this
morning and 81 per bushel was asked for
them. Fifteen or twenty barrels were re-
received by the dealers on the Norfolk line
steamer this morning.
The receipts Of wild ducks from the south
were also quite heavy this morning and
they sold at high prices.
Mr.. George ]. STANFORD has relieved Mr..
III. M. Grimes as purser OF the steamer Es-
telle Randall. Mr.. Grimes returns to duty
in the main ofi1oe Of the Randall company
here. -
The bark Essex. with lumber; the schoon-
or William Marshall. with lAthes. and the
schooner Edith L. Allen, With phosphate
sea from two to three weeks eaofr and no
tidings have been had Of them since they
sailed. They are all sevsfe4 days overdue
at the capes Of the Chesapeake
the shipping now lying, yicetPund at the
wharves would have but little, thance to e.
cape destruction, as the ice would keep
them at the wharves and prevent their re-
moval promptly. It IL the hope Of the har-
Dor master that he will be- supplied with
means OF breaking the ice about the
wharves In the harbor to allow the prompt
removal OF the vessels should 1t be neces-
sary.
The tug Radiant. with two barges, laden
with oil, In tow, came into port yesterday
afternoon, and were the frst freight craft
to arrive In port In ten days. Both the tug
and barges are built OF steel and are not
damaged in running through ice.
The young people In the southeastern Sec
ton OF the city have been enjoying some
fine skating on the Eastern branch fats.
but yesterdays snow has about put an end
to the sport. -
As the schooner Henry 8. Little was being
towed up Chesapeake bay. on her way to
Baltimore. Saturday, she was caught In the
ashore. The tug DauutIess and the los
breaker Latrobe succeeded in getting thu
schooner adoat and taking her to her dssti-