Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-10
ON THE RIVER FRONT
NEW SPEED LAUNCH MAKES AP-
PEARANCE ON POTOMAC.

A new speed launch belonging on the
Eastern branch has made its appearance
on the river and is said to be the fastest
craft Of its kind on the Potomac. The boat
and its engine were built by one of the ma
chinists at the Washington navy yard DUR
ing his idle time and was put overheard
for the first time about the middle of the
past week. The little craft is equipped
with gasoline engine of large power, and
those who have seen her run say she fairly
flies through the water, and leaves most of
the larger steamboats, behind her. 1t is
claimed that she can make seventeen miles
an hour without forcing her. Until her ap-
pearance on the river the fastest of the
speed boats made but about thirteen miles
an hour. The speed launch was built by
her owner for pleasure purposes and will
often be seen cruising on the river in this
vicinity.
Business was dull this morning at the
wholesale fish market at the wharf Trout
and spot constituted the bulk of the stock
on sale and prices were low.
On the watermelon wharf in consequence
of the rain keeping buyers away, business
was very dull Prices range at about the
| figures quoted yesterday.
The supply of crabs, clans and oysters
on hand was not large. Because of the in
| clement weather the demand was very
light. Prices are steady.
The following charters of vessels to load
for this city are reported as having been
made In the past day or two: Schooner
| Clarence H. Venner, to load zee at Rock
port, Maine, for this city; schooner Earl
Biscoe. cord wood on the Potomac for this
| city; schooner Nellie and Matte, pine lum-
| Der in Lower Machodoc for this city, and
| schooner Sarah Lawrence soft coal at
Georgetown for Boston or another port in
New England.
The big tug Sandow Of Baltimore will
come into port today with the barges John
I. Brady, Mary c. McNally and Sharon Hill
in tow The barges have aboard cargoes
of hard coal from Philadelphia and will be
taken to the Georgetown wharves to aln-
load. The barges each have about 100 tons
of the fuel aboard. The dealers are now
laying in supplies of coal for the cold
weather, and the arrival of tows of coal
laden barges will be daily occurrence.
The two-masted schooner WentZ Roberts,
which unloaded cargo of lumber here, has
sailed for Colonial Beach, where she has
been chartered TO take a party of young
people aboard for a cruise on the river and
bay. Old Point. Norfolk and the historic
points on the James river will be visited be-
fore the party returns TO the Beach. They
expect to be twelve days or two weeks on
TIE trip.
The heavy rain of yesterday morning
filed all the streams on this and the Vir-
ginia side of the river and sent a heavy cur
rent down the streams to the river. Four
Mile Run was afiood for several hours after
the rain ceased; and as the water ran off
1t brought down with 1t an unusually large
number of water snakes of all sizes. Under
the trestle of the Alexandria electric road
several big punches of snakes sought har-
Dor from the rushing water, among the
big stones forming the base of the trestle.
and could be seen plainly by the passengers
on the cars.
There was considerable current in the
river this morning from the rush of the
rainwater coming down from the tributaries
of the Potomac at its upper end, and the
flow Is expected to become stronger during
the day Some little rubbish is being
hron there
logs or large pieces Of timber IN 1t as yet
General River Matters.
Capt Sonny Reagan has an improvised
pile driver at work at his boat house re-
building the walkway from the house to the
floats at which the little pleasure craft are
moored. Some changes In the docking ar
rangements about the boat house are also to
be made. Cumberland & Son are also
building a walkway from their boat house
to the mOoring dock. IhlS WalKWay VIII
be new structure.
A dredging machine is at work deepening
the docks at the foot of X street southwest
for the use of the lumber carrying vessels
that unload their cargoes there. The water
about the pier will be made deep enough 10
accommodate the large schooners tina. brig
lumber here from southern ports. Wl'hln
the docks in the local harbor have been
deepened and improved
The bugeye Goldie c. has arrived IN port
from the lower river with cargo of pine
lumber, about 10000 feet, consigned to local
dealers. -
The schooner R. Mason is in port with
cargo of about forty cords Of wood from
the lower river, and will unload at the
wharf foot of 10th street.
The schooner Sarah Lawrence has COM
pleted the unloading of cargo OF Ice, and
has been taken around to Georgetown TO
take aboard load OF about LOU tons OF
Cumberland coal for the Boston market.
The schooner Widgeon with a cargo of
about 50 900 feet of pine lumber aboard,
from Virginia lumber port, came into port
yesterday evening.
The steamer Dennis Simmons Is at Alex
andria unloading cargo OF shingles from
a North Carolina port for the Alexandra
dealers.
The schooner L. f. Williams has been
taken to a Georgetown lumber wharf to dis
charge cargo of Virginia pine lumber from
the Rappahannock river.
The schooner Alethea, laden with cargo
of about 1000 feet of boards from Ches-
aneake bay lumber port, Is lying in the
stream waiting opportunity to berth and
discharge her cargo.
The big schooner Young Brothers has ar
rived at Boston with a cargo OF SOFT coal
from this city. 1t is stated that the schoon-
err will go to the Kennebec to load cargo
of ice for this city.
Mr.. William M. Reardon. agent OF the
Randall and other steamboat lines at Alex
| andria has gone. with his family, to spend
some time at Colonial Beach.
Chief Engineer Barrows has taken charge
| of the engine room aboard the steamer T.
v. Arrowsmith. Chief Engineer Moore,
from the Smith" is looking after work
ashore on the Randall steamers
Lieutenant and Harbormaster Sutton mas
| returned from a visit of a few days to Colo
| NAL Beach and is again on duty at the mar
| Dor police station.