Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-25
GENERAL NEWS GATHERED
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT

Sand companies Of Washington are re
ported busy taking sand and gravel from
beds in the Potomac to meet unusually
| heavy demand for material at this season
All companies have their full equipment
at work at various points along the river
between this city and Greenway flats.
In the early part Of the winter severa
digging machines were brought to points
near this city. SO that in case OF a freeze
they could soon be placed in harbor. Since
the winter has remained so open they
have been returned to their down-rivei
working grounds Tugs are daily bring.
ing up long strings of sand-laden scows.
The big pumping machine Of the Smoo'
company from work on the flats opposite
Alexandria was last week taken to
Pomonkey creek, Md, and is at work
there. A small machine Is working op
posite Alexandria. Other diggers are
operating in Piscataway creek. on Green
way flats. on the river above the High
way bridge and at other points.
The schooner Buelah Land which has
been lying In. winter quarters at Alex
andria for the past month awaiting the
freezing of the river, left yesterday for a
bay point, the master of the schooner
wearying of waiting for ice to make.
The Buelah Land will go to the Severn
river to bring cargo of glassmaking
sand to the bottle-making plants at Alex-
i J.
work when laid up.
The present springlike weather is max
ing restless the masters of laid-up YES
sells. Unless there comes change in the
weather shortly, it Is probable that a
number will be leaving here for other
points on a hunt for cargoes.
The masters arc in Quandary. They
are now safe In harbor at a time when
cargoes are scarce and freights low. The
weather is open. however. If they leave
h4,, GtA v,A A>l ~ -f1y.:
cargo that will help to pay expenses.
On the other hand. suppose it turns cold
and we have a February freeze, as often
hapens, then what? This is the PROPOSE
ton the vessel masters and owners want
solved.
One large sand-carrying scow belong.
ing to the Smoot company. brought up
the river yesterday evening and anchor
ed In the cove north Of Alexandria, sprang
a leak yesterday morning and sank as it
lay nnoored. This morning pumps were
put to work on the craft and the cargo
Of sand WAS removed and the scow was
pumped out. The lighter will be taken to
an Alexandria shipyard to be hauled out
to have the hull repaired. caulked and
put In order for service again.
Arrived: United States engineers serv-
ice tug General Warren. at Alexandria
from the York river; schooner Mabel oys-
tiers In the shell from the lower river; tug
Camilla, with a tow from the mouth of
Getaway creek.
Sailed: Schooner Buelah Land light.
from Alexandria for a river point tug
Resale. with a tow for Pomonkey creek
pungy Lewis. light. for the lower river to
load back to this city; tug Meade. with a
tow Of light scows for digging machines
down river: tug d. NJ. Key. with a tow
for river point.
Memoranda Schooner Sidonia Curley
has been chartered to load lumber on the
Rappahannock river for this city; schoon-
er s. c. kimball IS on her way to this city
with oysters for the market: steam barge
Daniel K. Jackson Is at a river point
loading cord wood for the dealers here
schooner Hester A. Waters will go to a
Virginia point to load lumber on discharg.
ing her cargo here; schooner Willie Clar.
ence Is at a river point loading for this
city.
The large power launch belonging tc
Capt Joseph Drifuse, at Alexandria. has
been taken from the water and placed
upon a float in a dock at Alexandria sc
that the hull can be cleaned and painted
preparatory to the opening OF the spring
boating season on the river. A house will
also be piac ed on the launch before il re-
turns to service.
The warm springlike weather of yes.
terday tempted the owners Of a number
OF power launches to place their boats In
commission. and dozen or more of them
were out for trips on the river for the
first time In a month or six weeks.