Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-12
STEAMSHIPS,
GENERAL NEWS GATHERED
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT

The old power schooner Martha Davis
hailing from Elizabeth City, n. c., is out
on the marine railway at the Alexandra
shipyard having her hull rebuilt and be-
ing converted into practically a new boat
1t will be two weeks or longer before
the vessel is ready for service. When pu,
overheard she will be used for genera
work on the Potomac.
The Martha Davis was brought here
about a year ago. For several weeks
after she arrived here there was con.
troversy over her ownership that found
its way into the courts.
The party owning her in Norfolk claim
ed that those who brought here here had
obtained possession of the vessel by
fraudulent means. The local courts al
lowed the Norfolk owner to take posses
sion. He carried her to Alexandria. where
she has been laid up until sold recently.
The Martha Davis is one of the Oldest
Its tributaries, having reached the mature
age of forty years. She was built at
Straits, N c., in 1868, and is of fourteen
tons gross register. She has been used
for fishing and Clustering on the lower
part of Chesapeake bay.
Judging from the quantity of fertilizer
being shipped from Baltimore and Alexan-
dria to points along the river In Maryland
and Virginia, the farmers In the river
counties of the two states are preparing
ment to this and other markets.
For two weeks or longer the river line
steamers on every trip have been carrying
large quantities Of fertilizer to all the
landings. Many hundred bags of material
are being handled by the steamboat men.
Fertilizer shipments are usually heavy
at this season of the year. This year they
are particularly heavy. The bulk Is com
ing by steamer from Baltimore and is
transferred to the river steamers at AL
I~n ory-fc To ifs
down river.
To handle the shipments expeditioussly
an extra number of deckhands have to be
carried on the steamers. The shipments
of the farm land Improvement material
will continue, it is stated, until ABOUT the
end of this month.
Work is progressing slowly on the new
tugboat in process of construction at the
shipyard of NJ. NJ. Davis & Son at Solo
mons Island. Nd, for A. ]. Taylor & Bro.
of this city.
The new boat will not be ready for
service until some time next spring. She
will be the largest of the Taylor feet OF
tow boats and will be used for coastwise
towing as we'll as for Work on chesapeake
bay and tributaries.
The Taylor feet, which is owned here.
now comprises six tugboats Of varying
sizes.
Arrived: Schooner-scow Daniel, cord
wood from a lower river point Tor the
local dealers; bugeye Avalon oysters in
the shell from the Potomac beds; pungy
Cora Mckinney, oysters In the shell
from the lower river at Alexandria: tug
Baby, towing three sand-laden lighters
James o. Carter, with a tow from a river
point; unnamed fattie. oysters from the
Potomac beds, at Alexandria,; tug Eu-
genia with tow of lighters from F1s-
Getaway creek.
Sailed: Schooner Bertha May, light, for
Dot int tn
city; schooner William Henry, light. for
a down-river point to load; tug Resale
with a tow Of light scows for P1scat-
away creek; schooner Mary. light. Tor
Potomac point to load oysters; tug Capt.
Toby, light, for Quantico to shift tie
loading barge to another river point;
tug Baby with a tow for river sand
digging point,
Memoranda: Barge Brandywine is
lying at Georgetown awaiting q tug to
her way to this city from Nomini with
cargo of cord wood: schooner Mary
Ann Shea Is in Aqua creek loading cord
wood for this city; schooner Dorchester
has arrived at Norfolk from this city
with a cargo of stone: schooner Edith
Verrall is at a river point loading for
this city.
The tug Minerva Of the fleet of the
Columbia National Sand Company OF
this city Is out on the marine railway
at Alexandria for attention to her hull.
painting under water, and other repair
work. The work will be finished and the
tug will return to service early this
week. The tug Camilla of the Taylor
fleet, which was out Of service Satur-
day to wash boiler and do some other re-
pair work. has returned to service on the
river.
"A quarter interest In the well known
bay schooner Eugie was last week sold
in Baltimore by Harry A. Shelton to
John r. Tubman and William A. Apple
garth The price mentioned in the bill
of sale was nominal. The schooner NJ.
NJ. Travers, a small bay vessel, was sold
by w. G. Winterbottom to Ivy L. Leo
nard and William H. Leonard for $685..