Evening star., 1909-04-12
GENERAL NEWS GATHERED
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT


ionial Beach excursion route is undergo
ing her annual inspection at the hands
of the United States steamboat inspectors
today in preparation for taking up excur-
sion work on the river as soon as warm
weather comes. The ST. Johns and the
excursion pier and grounds at Colonial
Beach are now owned by the Colonial
Beach Company, In which large amount
of Washington capital is invested. Many
changes for the betterment of the steam
er and grounds for the coming season are
under way. The new company is now a
distinct organization from the company
operating the steamers Of the old Randall
line on the river, and the excursion and
river boats this summer will be operated
as separate business propositions. AS the
st. Johns is one of the largest passenger
carrying steamers in service on the Po-
tomac. her inspection is very close one.
and the boat and it's equipment will have
to be up to all the requirements of the
United States steamboat inspection serv-
ice regulations before it will be granted
a license for service during the coming
summer.
interfering considerably with business
operations along the river. The barge At
lantic. which has been lying In Aqua
creek for the past week taking aboard
portion of her cargo of railway ties for
New York. was to have been brought out
of the creek and towed TO Alexandria to
complete her cargo. The water in Aqua
creek was so low Saturday and yesterday
that the barge was hard and fast aground
and 1t was impossible to move her, and her
loading operations will have to be sus-
pended until high water comes again.
Several pile drivers are at river points
waiting an opportunity to come up the
river 10 do work at this city, but the
continuation Of the half gales makes 1t
dangerous to attemt to move them up
the river until the wind dies down.
The excursion season opened on the Po-
tomac yesterday when the steamer River
Queen inaugurated the season with run
to Motley Hall with colored excursionists
aboard. In spite of the cold weather the
steamer was comfortably filled on all her
trips.
Arrived-Flattie Jumping Jack, clans
from the eastern shore Of Virginia; tug
Rosalie. with tow of lighters from Pts
Getaway creek; tug Southern. towing two
coal-laden barges from Baltimore; bugeye
Ella wood from river point at Alex
andria; tug Camilla, with a tow of wood
and oyster vessels from Potomac points
schooner Dawson, fish from the Potomac
nets.
Saied-United States lighthouse tender
Holly, on cruise: tug Carter, towing
A. C. Company lighter to Quantico;
schooner j. p. Robinson, light for Alex
u iOdu lOT Upper MdSIOuOC CTeck
tug Meade. with tow of light sand
carrying scows for the sand digging ma
chimes; bugeye Halle X, light for the
lower Potomac to load back to this city
bugeye Rafting Joe, light for river point
to load.
Observation-Disclosures Grace G. Bennett
has been chartered to load lumber at q
North Carolina port for this city; schoon-
er Parsons, will load at bay point fol-
dealers here; schooner Hattie Nickerson
laden with oyster shells from this city
arrived at Suffolk, Va, Friday: schooner
Isabel is In the river with cargo OF
lumber for this city: schooner Eta and
bugeye William III. Villas are on their way
to this port with oysters from the Poto.
mac beds aboard: schooner Mable &
Ruth is at Newbern. n. c., loading fol-
this city.
The schooner Norma has been char
tered to bring the first cargo of Canadian
spruce laths TO this city this season, but
II Will be q month or six weeks before
she arrives here. Johnson & Wimsatt
OF this city, charterers Of the vessel. have
been informed that the vessel is at st.
johns undergoing repairs, and that the
loading OF her cargo. at the New Bruins
wick port would be started this week.
small lumber-laden vessel is re-
ported high and dry on the Potomac
flats short distance below the Firth
Sterling steel plants. The vessel went on
the mud just before the coming of the
Northwestern, and when the tide fell the
vessel was left completely out of the
water. 1t will probably be several days
before she is fioated.