Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-16
ON THE RIVER FRONT
BUSY TIMES ANTICIPATED AT
LOCAL BoATYARDs.
Fish and Oyster Markets Brisk Rails
ing sunken Sand Digging Machine
Marine Matters.

Work in the local lighthouses is very
slack. owing to the freezing weather and.
the impossibility of placing the larger craft
under shelter. There is plenty of work on
hand, and with the return Of warmer
weather the boatyards will be occupied
with repair work in preparation for the
next boating season. Besides this repair
work, contracts have been placed for the
building of two new launches at two Of the
lighthouses. and a large seine boat is to be
converted into a power launch at Benefits.
A new launch, which is also to be fitted
with sail power, is under construction at
Alexandria These new boats are to be
ready for service early in the summer, and
this work. with the overhauIing to be done
of other pleasure craft, will keep the boat
houses busy for several months after work
is started.
The fact that tomorrow, Ash Wednesday,
is the first day of the Lenten season made
the demand for fresh fish at the wholesale
market, on the 18th street wharf, heavier
this morning than 1t has been, and the
supply was also good, coming mainly from
North. Carolina and sources still further
south. Trout, mulletS, sand perch, shad
and herring constituted the chief varieties
of the fish on sale, and they all brought
good prices
But few oysters in the shell were on sale
at the wharf market this morning, while
the demand was good The dealers are
again obtaining the bulk of their supplies
from Norfolk. the Norfolk line steamers
bringing up large shipments each trip.
The statement that Capt. e. s. Randall
had sold his excursion resort River View,
to the government is denied by Capt. Ran
dali. who says he has not been approached
with any proposition to buy the resort, and
that 1t will be ready for business, as usual,
during the coming summer.
Several weeks ago of the large sand
and gravel digging machines, owned by Mr..
Louis E.. Smoot. was cut through by the
drifting ice and sank in Paumonkey creek.
Several efforts have been made to raise the
vessel. but without success. Yesterday the
tug Rosalie, Capt. Kersey, with big pumps
aboard, left Alexandria for Paumonkey and
will again try to float the machine. If
raised the machine will be brought to Alex
andria for repairs.
General Items of Interest.
The ice now coming down Chesapeake bay
is reported to be heavier than at any time
during the entire winter. Large foes Of
ice from the Susquehanna river cover the
bay from it's headwaters to Point Lookout
and 1t is stated that navigation is practical
ly closed, except to the tug boats that can
dodge around the ice.
Two of the sand digging machines OF the
Columbia National Sand Company are at
Deans boat yard, at Alexandria, for gen.
eral overhauling and to be put In ORDER tor
work as soon as the river opens
1t is stated that the lumber dealers here
have contracted for many thousand feet OF
pine lumber from along the river. The lum-
Der will be brought here as soon as vessels
can be found to bring 1t.
The pungy Zephyr is lying at the wharf
of Thos. w. Riley loading cargo OF Dualo-
ing material for Colonial Beach. Inc YES
sci will leave for the lower river as soon as
the ice will allow the tugs to tow her
through it.
The steamer Lily and Howard and the
schooner A. H Quinby, both laden with
cord wood to replenish the supply here, are
reported frozen up in Occoquan, where they
sought harbor The undertaken schooner
Sidonia Curley and several smaller vessels
are also reported frozen up in Occoquan.
The tug Dallis, Capt. Jas Jones, is max
ing her daily trips between this city anu
Gunston, with supplies for the Hight folnt
plantation The Jones, though one or the
smaller tugs owned here, has missed put
few trips, and then only when the Ice was at
its heaviest.
Capt Sonny Reagan is reftung the IN
terror of the power launch Louise, and Will
make her one of the handsomest boats
owned in the Potomac before she returns
to service again.
The metal has been stripped from the
hull of the launch Bartholdi at BENEFITS
hoat ward and the woodwork is being re-
newed wherever needed. The launch Is to
be placed in thorough order.
The new bank building erected at Colonial
Reach is reported to be completed, and the
institution will be opened for business be-
fore the summer excursion season TO the
resort begins.