Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-31
ON THE RIVER FRONT
LIGHTHOUSE PROPOSED FOR Po-
ToMAC RIVER POINT.
Big Houseboat Nearly Completed
Work to Begin on Fireboat Pier
Other Matters.

oussed foint, on the Potomac river, meets
with the most enthusiastic approval of the
steamboat men and sailing vessel masters
whose vessels ply up and down the river.
Rugged Point Is now marked by light
buoy, but 1t is claimed, owing to the small
ness OF the light. 1t is difficult to locate it on
dark night. The sand bar juts far out
INTO the river, and the erection of light on
1t would be of great assistance to Potomac
mariners. The establishment of a light
house at this point has long been advocated
by those interested in Potomac shipping
put 1t is only recently that steps looking to
lts establishment have been taken Con-
sress mas been asked to appropriate $50 900
Tor the erection of the light and patrons of
the Dill say they have the promise of the
powers in Congress that it will be passed
Inc supply Of fish on sale in the fish
houses on the 18th street wharf this morn
ing was small, there being little else than
frozen STOCK on sale. The demand for the
nsh was quite brisk, and the small supply
70 meet this demand sent prices up to fig
week. ~ ~
On the oyster wharf business was fairly
prlsk' the uptown dealers doing most of
the buying to replenish stock before the
supply on hand, which is becoming low Is
exhausted. There is but little proba bilitv
or oystcr-laden boats reaching this CITY
soon So . and the masters of the vessels lying
ing them for prices ranging from so cents
to 81 % per bushel ~ ee''."
ducks are in demand, but the supply is
Reports coming from the lower river state
that quantities of fish, benumbed by the
coldness of the water in the shoal parts of
the river are being taken from under the
ICE ny the fishermen. Perch, bass, mullets
ana other varieties are being CAPTURED in
this way and are being used by the peopIe
along the river, as there are no boats run
nlng on which they could ship them to mar
ket.
The large househoat which is being built
IN the dock adjoining the pier of the steam
er RIVER Queen is rapidly approaching COM
pie'ion and Will be ready for service by the
Tune the river is again open for navigation
Tor sailing craft The houseboat which is
being built it is stated, for PHILADELPHIA
parties Will be one Of the largest ever built
here and will be completed. Besides the
usual equipment of this class of vessel. the
craft VIII be heated by steam, and private
electric lighting plant will furnish lgh.
aboard it.
General River News.
1t is stated along the wharves that as
soon as the weather will allow the ground
VIII be broken for the quarters for the
new fire boat at the pier lying between the
morgue wharf and that used by the harbor
police boat Vigilant and the harbormaster
Inc per is centrally located, and in case
OF heed the boat could reach any part of
the harbor with her fire-fighting appara-
tus
The steamer Governor McLane of the
MARYLAND oyster police fleet, has left her
station in the Potomac for few DAYS and
has gone to Baltimore for coal and stores
As soon US they are aboard the steamer
VIII return to the vicinity of the Wicomico
river In the Potomac to keep a watch on
the large number Of dredging boats oper-
at1ng in Maryland waters when the wealth
er and ice will allow.
The revenue cutter Window is at Balti-
more to store coal in her bunkers prepara-
tory to sailing on another cruise on Chesa-
peake bay on the lookout for vessels in
distress.
lines have prepared for a long lay-up of
their boats. Along the river front it is not
thought that the sidewheel steamers will
be able to run again for certainly two
weeks and perhaps longer.
Some fears are expressed that there is
danger of an ice gorge at the bridges
across the Potomac when the weather mod
crates and the ice begins to break up and
run down the river The Potomac from
the Long bridge to Harper's Ferry is COW
five to eight inches. There are now
stretching across the river the piers of the
new highway bridge and the new and old
railway bridges offering obstruction to the
be sudden one and the ice come down in
a mass there is danger Of flood from the
ice damming up the water.
The British schooner King of Avon,
which last October sailed from Nova SEQ
tia with cargo of plaster for Alexandria,
and which was twice driven away from the
capes of the Chesapeake by storms, will
not now come to Alexandria, it is stated
Several weeks ago she put into George
town, S. c., badly damaged. and her owners
Avon is a new vessel, and was making her
maiden trip, that proved so unfortunate.