Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-20
ICE JAM THREATENS
River Men Safeguarding Their
Property From Damage.
HEAVY RAIN is FORECASTED
Prospect Of High Water and Drifting
Bergs Causes Uneasiness in
Shipping Circles.

| Seeing in prospect the big breaking ur
its tributaries, river men today are making
all possible preparation to guard their
vessels and river-front property in gen
eral from damage when the expected high
water, drifting bergs and ice jams arrive
Ever since the cold wave produced the
unusually heavy coating of ice on the
river the predictions have freely been
made that a heavy warm rain, at the end
Of the freeze would be likely to produce
serious results-and now the rain is be-
lieved to be on the way
According to the official forecast. a
storm which was central over the west
ern gulf states this morning. is moving
!! toward the northeast and it is expected
to reach the Potomac watershed tonight
and tomorrow. producing a rainfall of
considerable volume. During the rain
there will be little appreciable change in
temperatre, and even though the mercury
may fall again when the storm has pass
ed, it is believed the cold will not be of
sufficient intensity to again bind the
river ice and prevent its rush on the crest
of the high water toward the ocean.
Lower River Free of distractions.
The inflowing salt water on the flood
tides has helped to clear away the ice
below Indian Head, and the officers of
river steamers report the Potomac from
Indian Head to the Chesapeake bay to
be free of icy Instructions almost from
shore to shore. From Indian Head to
Washington. however, only the channel
has been cleared by passing steamers,
and the flats are still covered by deep
layers of ice with hundreds of miniature
n no
leased to add to the troubles of naviga-
ton. Above the city and as far as tine
river and it's tributaries stretch, there are
thousands upon thousands of tons of ice,
and it is this vast accumulation which is
feared when the high water turns it
loose all at once.
For the first time in weeks the nego-
tiation of the upper river channel. above
the Highway bridge, was attempted yes
terday by the tugs James o. Carter and
of warm weather and fog. the ice was
found to be practically solid and from
ten to twelve inches thick. Both tugs
were armed with ice plows, but they had
much trouble in forcing their way to
Georgetown, and in bringing out lighter
and several pontoonS which had been ice
bound since early in January. Another
channel was smashed through the George
town channel ice last night when the fire
boat Firefghter was called to aid in
Fishermen Eagerly Await Thaw.
While the market fishermen at DOWN
river points do not wish to see a great
outrushing of ice, they are anxious to see
the river channels cleared SO that they
can resume activities.
At the PaSSapatanZy and Windmill
point fishing shores everything - i'm
readiness to put overheard the big 1laul
seines. and the trap net fishermen are
waiting only for the ice to get out of the
way so that they can set their nets and
start operations.
1t has now been more than six weeks
since a fish was caught in the Potomac
river. and the fishermen are looking for
good catches when the season opens
Fresh shad and herring from Florida
waters are being received daily at the
fish wharf. more than 800 shad and 1000
herring coming yesterday and this morn
ing. Shad are selling at 60 cents for
buck and from 81 to s1.15 each for roes
Herring are in good demand at $3.50 to
e, per hundred. The approach of the
Lenten season has made the demand for
fish of all kinds quite heavy, blu: the
supply as yet is light.