Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

While the old Long Bridge, which
was little better than dam across the
Potomac, remained in service,
FoComac Washington was subject TO
rTooJ occasional foundations, caus-
@OVu' ed by the formation Of ice
gorges at the low-hung bridge and the
backing up of the river water in freshet
season. Such a flood occurred so years
ago, and the waters backed up into the
streets of the city, Pennsylvania avenue
being covered for q considerable stretch.
Great damage was done to property.
The flood did not subside until Sec
ton of the bridge was carried out and
the gorge was broken. The Star Of
February IS, 1881, thus tells the story
of the aftermath Of the inundation:
"All along the river front today a
scene of activity is presented, many men
being employed in cleaning up and re-
pairing damages by the flood. 1t is
found in many cases that the damages
more of the river was open today than
yesterday and above the bridge there is
large area of open water which Is
yet running quite swift. From the
causeway of the Long Bridge extending
northwestward the ice Is yet piled up to
the Georgetown Channel and beyond
there are immense drifts of ice, much
VI DccIl Lie low
grounds on the south side of the river.
Fully 500 feet of the trestle work
from the south end of the Long Bridge
has been carried off. On this work the
railroad company has about $50 men
employed working night and day. They
will, it is expected, complete it by the
end of the week (four days later. At
the north end of the bridge there are
over 200 men at work under the charge
Of Mr.. Walter, the engineer Of the rail-
road company, pruning the timbers to
replace the lost spans of the bridge.
Here there are two tugs at work with
piledriver, driving the piles. The tele-
graph company has q large force at
work. Last night Mr.. L. Moxley, having
four calcium lights thrown on the
bridge, made the scene a novel and
beautiful one. It Is now expected that
this work will be done and the trains
running by Saturday evening.
1.-THE tugboats which are in the
employ of the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad forced their way up to the
arsenal last night and it was thought
that the way for the ferryboats would
be open today. The steamer City of
Alexandria got down as far as the
arsenal this morning, but there was an
immense lot of driftwood packed with
Ice at that point, forming a barrier
pass, and it returned. From Giesboro
Point two tugs were manfully and grad
ually working their way through. and it
was thought at IL o'clock that the ferry
boats would be able to run this aft
ernoon.
THE City Of Baltimore has two pom
derous ice breakers. in the way of
steamers of great strength, with engines
OF extraordinary power. One belongs
to the State and city jointly, and is
named The Maryland The other is
the property of the city exclusively and
is called The Latrobe' Our District
Commissioners, when danger was inlmi-
nent to both life and property within
our city because of the ice gorge In the
Potomac, telegraphed Mayor Latrobe for
assistance In the way of breaking the
gorge. This appeal was met with q
polite refusal, and the ice boats remain
ed In Baltimore Rarhor, towing vessels,
which tugs could have done as well.
would not have refused
Baltimore under like circumstances and
did not refuse her aid when it was
asked to help extinguish a big FIRE in
that city not long enough back to be