Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-02
ON THE RIVER FRONT
BIG RATS OF PILES FOR PUBLIC
WORKS ARRIVE
Frost Fogs Worry Steamboat Men
Work at the saipyard-Per-
sonal and General

The large amount Of public work going
On about this city in, 6hich piling is being
used. is taxing the capacity Of the river
counties of Maryland and Virginia to sup
ply the demand. Hardly week passes but
that two or three big RATS Of piles are
brought up the river from Occoquan. Nom
ini and other points, and they are used
as fast as they arrive. The steam barge
Lily and Howard has been engaged In tow
ing the RATS to this city for several months
past and this week she has been Joined by
the tug James o. Carter, and yesterday
both boats arrived with RATS In tow. They
brought in all about 500 piles. The piles
are being used at the navy yard, the sewer
work on the Eastern branch. the new NUM-
cipal building, about the piers for the new
highway bridge, and on the new railway
work at Four-Mile run.
Owing to the extremely small supply or
fish on sale at the wholesale fish market on
the 18th street wharf this morning the
market was very dull. Buyers were on hand
in fairly large numbers, but there was moth
ing for them to buy, and they went away
disappointed But four barrels of fresh fish
were brought from the fisheries about Nor
folk to the dealers here, and they consisted
of bass and pike. Prices were high, owing
to the condition of the market.
The demand for oysters in the shell was
excellent this morning, but the supply on
light, there having been no arrivals of
oyster-laden craft for the past day or two.
Prices this morning ranged from 80 cents
to 90 cents per bushel, there being only the
medium grades of the bivalves on SALE.
Ducks from North Carolina are being re-
ceived by the dealers, but the supply is
small and they are selling at high prices.
The launch Mallard. belonging to Mr..
Harry Hempler, which left here day or
two ago for a trip on the river, was towed
into port yesterday by the steam barge
Lily and Howard. 1t is stated the gasoline
engine Of the launch became disabled down
river and she was brought back home for
repairs.
The steamboat men report the fogs of
the past day or two as being exceptionally
thick early in the morning from this city
to Shepherds Landing, near Alexandria. and
say that they are so thick with particles
Of frost that they looked as the suns rays
showed through them like light SHOWS. The
decks of the vessels on the river were white
with the frost during yesterday mornings
fog and the vessels had to be run with
great caution to prevent accidents. These
morning fogs have been more frequent this
fall than for the past two or three years.
General and Personal News.
The little schooner John p Robinson,
which was hauled out on the marine rail-
way at Alexandria for attention to her hull,
had her repairs completed and was put
overheard yesterday. She will load cargo
of general stores at Alexandria for points
on Upper Machodoc creek The steamer
Estelle Randall is to- be hauled out on the
marine railway this afternoon or tomorrow
and ten days or two weeks will be required
to complete the work to be done on her.
The tug NJ. Mitchell Davis left port yes
terday afternoon with barge No. 20 of the
Consolidation Coal Company in tow, bound
for the mouth of the river, where the barge
will join fleet of other c. c. c. barges to
be towed up the coast to Boston or another
~, Narr LN,,crI 10 ii N "a
about 500 tons of soft coal from the mines
at Cumberland, which she loaded at the
Georgetown coal piers.
Capt. James Marmaduke, master of the
steam lighter Dan'l X. Jackson, employed
at the new highway bridge, yesterday drop
ped heavy piece of iron on his foot. badly
MASKING the toes. The injury, while pain
full, is not thought to be serious.
Mr.. James Nealess chief engineer of the
harbor police boat Yigilant, is still con-
fined to his home by Illness.
Mr.. Harry Beale has been made general
agent and manager of the Weems line OF
steamers by the new owners Of the line.
Mr.. Beale was connected with the Weems
line under the old management.
A tow of eight or more oyster craft,
which have unloaded cargoes of the BIZ
valves here in the past week, left port yes
terday afternoon in tow of tug for the
oyster beds on the lower Potomac, where
they will again load oysters for This
market.
The schooner Isaac Solomon, laden with
cord wood from Potomac river point,
came into port yesterday afternoon.
The schooner Grace G. Bennett is loading
a cargo of railway iron at Alexandria and
will take 1T to North Carolina, where 1t Is
to be used in the construction of new
railway.
The tug Baby yesterday afternoon
brought into port tow of seven sand and
gravel-laden barges for the Columbia Sand
Dredging Company, from the dredging ma
chimes working on the river below Alex
andria.