Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-08
ON THE RIVER FRONT
RESUMPTION OF STEAMER SERv,
ICE HAILED WITH JOY.
Doubt Regarding Condition of POTOMAC
Landings-No Ferry in Sight
--Harbor Notes.

The resumption of the steamboat service
on the river between this city and the land
ings in Virginia and Maryland will be hailed
witt JOY by the residents of the river coun-
ties of the two states, who have been cut or
from the outside world for over two months
AS consequence supplies of all kinds were
getting very low in the stores and in many
Instances the merchants had to drive thirty
and forty miles to railway station to re-
plenish their stocks. OIL and candles In tho
lower part of Westmoreand county. vir-
ginia. had become so very scarce that the
farmers and their families were forced to 60
to bed when darkness came. as they had
nothing to use for Illuminating purposes ex-
cept the light given out by the wood stoves
and from the open iireplaces. The steamer
Harry Randall, which sailed this morning,
carried a large supply of groceries and
stores of all kinds from this city and Alex
andria to the different river wharves
The first shipment of fresh fish from fish
ermen working nets on the Potomac river
was received at the fish wharf yesterday,
two barrels having been brought up from
Fort Hunt wharf on the steamer Estelle
Randall. The fish brought high prices, and
sold readily. Shad. salmon, trout, Spanish
nackerel and other varieties from Florida
and the Carolinas are sale in small
quantities, and are in demand. There were
no herring "a all on sale this morning.
The schooner Shining Light. Capt. Keith
Davis, came into port yesterday afternoon
with d cargo of oysters aboard from the
lower end of the Kettle Bottom shoals.
The Shining Light is the first oyster-laden
vessel to arrive in port for about six weeks
but others are looked for within the next
day two.
Eighty and 90 cents per bushel were ask
ed for the Potomac oysters. The usual
supply of Norfolk stock sale in
the houses on the oyster wharf. Crabs and
cams were also on sale.
WharVpg bA
lower river is giving the steamboat man
ayers considerable anxiety. as the reports
coming from the lower river would indicate
that many of them are badly damaged. The
exact condition of the structures cannot be
ascertained until the steamers on the river
routes have made trip. Owing to the
certainty to the condition of the wharves
the managers of the Randall line refused all
shipments of live stock to river points on
the steamer that sailed this morning.
The movement looking toward the estab-
liShment of q ferry on the river between this
city and Alexandria. which was started sew
eral months ago, seems to have died before
1t was well started. and the outlook for the
establishment of the ferry service is tx
tremey dim. The condemned steamer
George Washington, at Alexandria, and the
burned Columbia. in the slip here. lie idle.
and the owners of the old ferry line make
no move toward putting the boats in serv-
ice.
General River News.
The work of overhauling the steam zach.
Diane, belonging to Gen. Crozier. u. s. A.
at Deane's boatyard at Alexandria. is being
pushed as rapidly as possible TO completion.
and the vessel it is expected, Will be ready
for service before the end of the month.
The Diane was one of the victims of last
winters ice. In running through 1t during
one of the early freezes she cut
through, and lying in the dock here filled
and sunk. When raised 1t was found she
had been badly damaged and she was taken
10 the Alexandria yard for general repairs.
The replacing of the engine in the large
power launch Alert, at the Sth street
wharf will have that craft ready for sery-
ice before the regular boating season opens,
and it is expected the launch will be found
more speedy than before she was disabled
while on her way up the river In the first
snow storm of the season November IL
last.
The sand and gravel digging machines
which have been in harbor during the
freeze now being made ready for serv-
ice, and as soon as the danger from the
ice coming down from the upper waters of
the Potomac is passed, they will be taken
to their digging grounds. and sand and
gravel will be taken from the bottom OF
the river for use here. 1t is stated that
the Potomac Dredging Company, operating
in Piscatway creek, will begin operations
within a few days.
The Randall line steamer Wakefield will
leave here before the end of this week for
the shipyard at Newport News to be gem
orally overhauled. Considerable boiler and
engine work is to be done on the steamer.
and number of plates on her steel hull.
which. have worn there In dragging over
oyster bars on the lower river to be
replaced. When the steamer returns home
she will be in the best of order.
The steamer Anne Arundel, of the Mary
land Delaware and Virginia Railway Line,
which sailed from Baltimore yesterday is
expected to come up to this city on her
trip. This will be the first visit the Anne
Arundel has made here for six months.
The United States training ship Prairie
is to sail from Alexandria for the Norfolk
navy yard this afternoon. Preparations for
leaving We're being made aboard the ship
this morning. The United States revenue
cutter William Window, Captain McCon-
nell, is ten-day cruise to Chesapeake
bay and its tributaries to aid vessels that
may be found in distress.
The Baltimore tug Defiance arrived in
port yesterday with two barges laden with
coal from Philadelphia for the local dealers.
The barges have had their cargoes aboard
for over a month, but have been unable to
come up the river owing TO the heavy ice.