The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-07

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
SIR,--In converting, few days ago, with Mr..
r. L. Stevens, upon the many dangers and delays
go constantly occurring from the vast quantity of
ice in the harbor, he suggested remedy that
seemed to me so efectual, and so simple in its
execution, that begged he would put it in writing
and permit me to publish it. | enclose to you his
views on the subject. Our harbor wants but to BIO
freed from the immense fields of drifting ice which
every hard winter is sure to bring to render it as
accessible and safe in winter as it is convenient
and unsurpassed in summer. There is, presume,
scarcely vessel Of any size or rig, whose skipper
would not prefer to encounter the dangers of
voyage from California or Canton, than risk the
peris Of the navigation from Sandy Hook to the
Battery, in such season as this. If the immense
amount of property put at daily hazard by the
insurance companies-the heavy lossos sustained by
merchants and traders-the vexatious detentioas
and ruinous delays experienced by men of business
from this oft occurring cause of difficulty and
danger--if these, and many other unenumeratad
evils arising from the source could be avoided
by the expenditure Of ten times the amount this
improvement would cost, the Immunity would be
cheaply purchased The greater portion of the
ice-felds come from the flats and extensive
pays or the IIausou riVer. Inc ice tnat o.
structs the East river, that comes from He'll
Gate and its vicinity, is generally in smaller
masses, and finds it's way out by Buttermlk
ChaDnej, and that portion Of tho East river that
JOINS The Hudson opposite Castle William. This ice,
# un0bslIucted BY the i'm nense fields driftad into
the river and bay from the Hudson, would rarely
retsrn, or if 1t should partially do SO, the quantity
would DO too small TO affect seriously the bay and
harbor. Had The Hobosen and Jersey City Ferry
boats ceased 10 run, and the Permons boar been
stopped for few days, tho Hudson would have
beer efectusiiy bridged, either at Fort Washing
ton Point, between Castle Point and the project
ing wharfs ut Thirteenth street. leaving, as it did
then, the water below the obstruction compsra-
lively free for the navigation Of the river and aar
Dor. This has happened in times past, and but for
tie boats, would probably nave happened ".
Neither commerce, nor the dwcllers on the river
banks, would suffer much from the change La
such season rs this, the Hudson between the
Hig hands and the city is but melancholy waste
Of leo and wser, whose dreary solitude is undis.
turbed and Inbroken for weeks and months toge-
Their, save by the passage of single steamer SLOW
ly dragging her wounded length along, and forcing
her weary way to that bleak and cherries monu-
merit Of unrequited energy-Permont. With what
different feelings would the half frozen of in
bound vessels hail the lights Of Sandy Hook, when
they learned, that instead of massive fields Of ice,
sometimes impenetrabie, there was but 20 miles Of
unobstructod water. With the hope that tho remedy
suggested may commend itself to the notice of the
many interested in it's success,
remain yours, GEORGE w. BLUNT.