Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07
GENERAL NEWS GATHERED
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT

The work Of transferring the machinery
Of the old Miller tug. Martin Dallman, ia
new hull at Davis shipyard at Solomons
Island. Nd, is progressing rapidly. II
the weather remains open and no ice
makes on the river the new craft will be
here ready for service early the coming
spring.
The hull is about fifty feet long. The
new craft will be a modern towboat In all
respects. The hull was built for the
Potomac Dredging Company, but before
completion was secured by Capt A. J.
Taylor OF this city. who proposed to put
small engine in 1t and use 1t for harbor
work.
Before this was done John Miller own
er of the Dallman, purchased the hull, as
it lay at the shipyard. from Capt. Taylor
and Is having 1t made ready for service
The old Dallman will not be relegated to
the boneyard just yet. as 1t is stated that
her owners have determined to have a
small engine and boiler installed in her
and will use her for river towing in the
vicinity of this city.
1t is probable that the Dallman will re-
turn to service at this city in the spring,
when the new Miller tug comes here from
Solomons.
securing the woods in the river counties
of Maryland and Virginia on q hunt fol-
holly and mistletoe for shipment to the
market here to meet the Christmas de-
mand. For q week or ten days before
Christmas. if this year be like those past
will be crowded with barrels and boxes
of the mistletoe and big crates of holly.
Last year SO much holly was sent to
this market from the lower river. that
the forward part of the saloon uecks
the steamers had to be used for the stor-
age of the holly and other Christmas
greens. until the steamers, head-on, look
ed like big green bowers moving over the
surface Of the water.
Reports coming from down the river
state that mistletoe and holly are scarce
and that there may be shortage In the
supply from that source. Along the lines
of the canals connecting the Elizabeth
river and Chesapeake bay with the Caro-
lima sounds there Is the greatest album
dance of mistletoe, and a supply from
this source is looked for by the dealers
here.
Heavy shipments OF turkeys and other
fowls for the Christmas trade from river
points to this city should start within
the next few days. The supply Of tur-
keys down river is said to be large.
OF the fleet OF hundred or more dredg-
ing boats that were operating in the low
er river about the middle Of October only
thirty or forty remain. the remainder
having gone to the dredging grounds on
other lines Of traffic on the bay The
dredge boats operating on the river are
catching a supply large enough to stock
the run boats coming to this market, and
it is stated, do not have to work very
hard to do SO. The absence Of dredging
boats from the river Is most pleasing to
the steamboatmen. who now find harbors
clear and not blocked by the dredgers.
Arrived: Schooner Mayflower, cord
wood from a Potomac point to the deal
ers; schooner Eta, oysters In the shell
from the river beds for the market. tug
D. NJ. Key, towing a lighter laden with
lumber from a Virginia point for the
navy yard; schooner Hill, lumber from
down-river point for the dealers; tug Ca