Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-16
ON TIE RIVER FRONT
Id BARGE CAUSES sHoAI
WATER AT ALEXANDRIA.
Rebuilding Wharves Down the Poto-
mac-Overhauling Steamer River
Queen-Around the Harbor

The small scoop dredge belonging to John
Miller & Co., of this city. which has been
employed in throwing up the embankment
around the portion Of the Eastern branch
flats to be reclaimed, was yesterday taken
to Alexandria to deepen the water at the
public fish wharf there. Ten years ago
eighteen or twenty feet of water could have
been found in front of this wharf: last
year vessels drawing six feet went aground
there. This fill has been caused by a big
eddy formed By the wreck of a coal barge.
which about twelve years ago was blown
| upon the piles at the mouth of the old
canal above Alexandria and sank there.
This eddy sweeps all the debris from The
upper river into the Alexandria FISH wharf
and the docks nearby and has filled them
up. Efforts have been made several times
to have the government remove the wreck
but without success. although the wreck in
terferes with the navigation OF the river.
The material for the rebuilding OF the
wharf at Somerset Beach, King George
county. Va, is on the ground at the wharf
and the work on the pier Will be started
at once Somerset wharf was carried s-Say
I by the ice during the past winter The re-
building of the freight wharf at Colonial
Beach will be started in few days, and,
1t is stated. the pier Will be improved.
The steamer Samuel j. Pentz Will leave
here shortly for a Baltimore shipyard,
where she is to be locked and given a gem
eral overhauling. The hull of the steamer
is to be put in the best of condition and
her boiler and machinery will also be
placed In good order for effective service.
1t is expected the steamer will be about
six weeks at the shipyard and will arrive
home again sometime in the latter part of
April.
General River News.
The tug j F. Seectman has gone into
service towing sand and sravel-laden barges
end of the week the sand-digging plants on
the river will all be In full operation and
tows of barges will go up and down the river
daily
Wireless telegraph equipment Is being in
stalled on Diamond Shoal ilghtship No. II,
now undergoing repairs at Baltimore. The
vessel will next month take up her station
on the shoal. and with her wireless equip
ment will be able to keep in touch with the
wireless stations on the mainland.
The overhauiing of the boiler of the Not
ley Hall steamer River Queen has necessi-
tated the removing of her smokestack. The
machinery of the steamer Will be put in
thorough order at the wharf here. and she
will be ready to resume her trips on the Po-
tomac early in May.
Cant. C. w. Ridley, manager of the Mount
Vernon and Marshall Hall Steamboat Com
pany, with his wife. has returned from
visit of several weeks to Florida.
Inspector Harrison who will represent the
government in the work of deepening the
channel in Nomini creek, has gone to Nom
mi.
A large clam-sheH dredging machine was
taken to Georgetown yesterday morning and
will be employed in deepening several of the
docks there
The power launch Stranger, one of the
larger of the small pleasure craft on the
river, has gone into commission ana was out
yesterday for a run on the river
Work is being pushed at Deans boatyard
at Alexandria on the thirty-nine-foot aux
iliary sIoop being built for Mr.. J. A. Colds
borough of this city. The boat will be ready
for service early in the next month.
The steam barge Daniel X. Jackson. capt.
Owens is in port from Aqua creek with a
cargo of pine lumber for the dealers
The Goldie c. and VIM. F. Villas were
among the vessels that left port yesterday
under sail for river points.
The barge Reliance is at Alexandra 10
complete the unloading of cargo or lum-
Der from Norfolk
The steam barge E. James Tull is I'M
loading a cargo of piling at Alexandria TO
be used in the rebuilding OF the Norfolk
and Washington line wharf
The bugeye r. II. Stuart is in port with
cargo of oysters in the shell for the deal
ers.
The British bark Alexandria Black Is at
sea bound to Alexandria, from Buenos
Ayres, Argentina, South America, with
cargo of bone.
The Laura Woolford and Silver Spray
lying at Alexandria, will both fit out to
run fish during the coming fishing season
on the Potomac.