Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-22
ON THE RIVER FRONT
RIVER MEN ANTICIPATING
EARLY THAw IN POTOMAC,
Will Bring Wood Vessels Into Port
Hurrying Work on Launch
Other Matters.

river men are anticipating that the warm
rain last night may cause the ice in the
river to decay to such an extent that it will
soon disappear and business can be re-
sumeo oy the sailing vessels. as well as by
those steamboats, that have been tied I'D
almost continuously since the LIST Of jan
uary. The Ice is considerably softer today
than 1t has been in ten days, and the Nor
FOLK line steamers arrived here about on
time this morning Standing on the docks
at Alexandria yesterday afternoon, nothing
but ice could be seen, either up or down the
river. On the fats, where the steamers and
tugs do not run, 1t was lying unbroken, but
In the channel 1t was lying motionless in
broken masses, packed in places three or
TOUR rect deep. The prediction Of the
weather bureau that there are no cold
Of those dependent on the river for a living.
The Lenten demand for fresh fish Of all
kinds is very heavy, but the supply con-
tinues quite light and comes almost entire
~ from southern waters. Mullets, trout,
sand perch, with few shad and herring
from Florida, constitute the bulk Of the
stock and sell readily at good prices
1t is believed that the fishing shores along
the river will be able to get nets over
board within the next ten days. and then
bass, perch, catfish and other river fish will
be on sale.
Except stock brought from the vicinity
of Norfolk, there are no oysters on sale at
the wharf markets. and no vessels are
looked for within the next four or five
days. The demand for the Norfolk stock is
good and prices keep high.
The steamship New Orleans of the Mer-
chants and Miners Steamship Company,
which was damaged by the ice In Chesa-
Baltimore. and it has been found that six
steel plates on her hull were broken by
the pounding Of the ice. The wheel was also
damaged.
t. ha 10
to bring the steamer Lily and Howard and
the schooner E. H. Quinby into port this
week. The vessels are laden with cord
wood and their cargoes are badly needed
here, it is Said as the supply OF pine wood
is becoming very light. Tugs will be sent
to the assistance of the vessels, which are
lying in harbor in Occoquan, and according
to the last report heard from them the ice
was piled twelve feet high across the chan
mel they will have to come through to reach
the Potomac.
General News Of the Port.
While the work is being pushed on the
large steam launch Bartholdi, on Benefits
railway, it is expected it will be week or
ten days before she can be put overheard.
The metal has been stripped from the hull
Of the steamer, and she has been caulked
from stem to STERN besides having other
repair work done to her.
In spite of the efforts of the big pumps
to raise the sunken sand digging machine
lying in Paumonkey creek, the vessel Is
still lying on the bottom with the water
covering her decks. Another effort will be
made as soon as the ice will allow, and II
she cannot be raised it Is stated, an effort
will be made to work her into shoal water,
where the leak that caused her to sink can
be found and stopped.
1t is stated that the three masted schooner
William Marshall has passed in the capes
of the Chesapeake and is lying in harbor
waiting to come up to this city. She has a
cargo of laths from st. John, N. B., for this
city.
The steamer Estelle Randall resumed her
route to the wharves along the river in this
vicinity this morning, and expects to go to
Gunston and return No effort will be made
to reach Glymont for the next two or three
days If the ice will allow the steamers to
the landings In the lower part of the river
they will resume their trips in the latter
part of this week. This depends entirely on
the condition of the ice, however.
Capt Theodore Keene states that the re-
port that he had been made master of the
United States army lighter Pontonier Is an
error, and that he will return to duty on the
steamer Wakefield soon as that steamer
resumes business. 4s'.Ts.
The extremely heavy ice on the, river pre-
vented the running of the steamers on the
Alexandria ferry line and prevented many
persons from visiting that city to witness
the celebration of Washington's birthday
today.
1t is stated that all the material for the
new marine railway to be built at Deans
bcatyard near Alexandria is already on the
ground and the construction Of the railway
will be started as the weather will
allow. This railway is to be larger than
any in this vicinity except the big railway
at the Alexandria shipyard.