The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-11
Closing OF Navigation.

day afternoon, with . barge loaded with hay was
able to proceed only far a. Casteton, where she
checked. When last heard from yesterday, she was
still fast IN the ice The Hero took from this city
of the heaviest freghts of the season. large portion
Of which was dressed hogs, fresh meats, aad other
provisions.
The continued cold weather. sinking the mercury
down in the vicinity Of gives but little hope for
resumption Of navigation this season, in which
tie Hero will have met with sad hap in her VEN
ture. It appeared rather Wild one when she left
The river here, and for some fifty miles down the
river entirely covered with ice, constantly grow
ing stronger BY the congealing influence Of the
weather.
The canals did NOT wait for the official proclama-
ton Ct the State on ers TO close.
There are some one hundred boats, with valuable
csrgoes, caught in the ice, and 1T this time thei:
non-arrfvai has 0ccasoned much distress among our
mercantile houses.
fFrom the Rochester Democrat, Dec. 81
The resolution Of the Commissioners, & at the wa
ter sbould be ORA frm the canal the 5th lost,
has not yet been carried into effect the storm pre-
Sunday last, and many Of them are in Q bad posi-
ton, loaded with commodities not readily tran
shipped. In anti ipation that milder period would
ensue, time has been gTnnted TO those having boats
70 get 70 points convenient for unloading But the
weather continues severe, and there II prospect
that il win relax to afford better chance to
move boats from tie points where they lie at pre-.
sent In this state Of things, the contractors hsv
upon the Superintendent, Mr. Daggett, TO carry out
the resolution above referred TO, claiming it as o
right under their contracts. He will doubtless be
obliged to comply within three or four days, at the
from the Albany Argus Dec. 81
We learn from Commissioner Foett, who resched
this city yesterday from his division Of the canal,
that there are more boats frozen in along the line
Of the canal than At any former season within his
knowledge. They are lot collected at any par.
ticular point. but line the can from Buffalo 20 this
city. Most Of them have full cargoes OF produce
bound 10 tide water, or are wen laden with mer-
II Is estimated (ssys the Rochester Democracy
that there ere 100000 bushels Of wheat, upon boats,
frozen in between here and Buffalo. One firm here
has 600 bushels ice bound. Some of these cargoes
cost millers something to get their grain forward.
From the Chicago Tribune, Dec. 81
Navigation on the Illinois and Michigan Canal il
closed fer the season. The last boat which left this
port for the south. cleared on Saturday last
Several others have since taken out cesrances but
owing to the ice in the canal they been forced
to lay up,n and have their clearance PAGERS can
celled. The Ice yesterday was three inches thick
In the canal for several miles south of Bridgeport
The South Branch was also frozen over do sn to
Lake street bridge, and boys were skating thereon.
The period for closing the canal this season Is
considerably earlier than for several previous years
The Wheeling papers state the river above and
below that city 10 cloeed by ice. The same ia the
case 1t Pittsburg. The Monongahels, opposite
Pittsburg, and the Allegheny, ehort distance
above that city, are also ffozen over, and ON We'd
needay the former WAS covered with skaters. Such
an event. SO early in the season, has rarely occurred
before.
The Philadelphia Ledger, Of the 9th inst. says
The cold weather for the past few days has closed
the Schuyll1ll above Fairmoupt dam, and made ice
sufficiently strong for skating, as was exhibited
early yesterday morning BY number Of persons
who enjoyed the exhiisrasing sport on the basin.
Snould the cold weather Continue Q few days
longer, the ecutters viii go to work.
The Preservation OF Life on the Coast.
The Secretary OF the Treasury, with the visw to
the prevention Of shipwreck and the relief Of dis.
abed veseels this winter has sent orders to all the
cutters on the Atlantic coast TO begin their usual
ORDERS TO the cutter on the New York station. To
the others similar orders have been SENT
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
December 7, 1854. I
As the Is approaching when much suffering and
distress experienced by vessels bound to ports ia th
United States from long voyages, may be alevia,ed by
the agency OF the vessels while cruising the
coast in discharge of the duties enoined by the
Congress OF December o. 1851 have thought 1t adysa
bic TO designate the cutter Washington under
your command TO assist in that service To enable you
20 afford the required aid TO vessels and In all
OF distress will be prsper that you should carry
provisions fuel and water in such as can DO
place clothing other supplies board You will take
charge Of the same and dispose OF them arceaby TO
tncir directions. mus prfpaTtn, you are 10
cruise between Gardner's Bay and Little Egg Harbor
keeping close 10 the land may be consistent with
the safety Of the vessel and not going into port otener
than you may be compelled from stress Of weather
want of supplies, and all such occasions you viii i'm
mediatey report in writing To the Department the
OF such return.
While cruising you viii speak all vessels approaching
the coast which you may fall in with, and afford
requiring aid relief such assistance may be adapted
to their condition and necessities aud u may be In
your power 10 render and that aoy supplies thus farn
ishcd may be duly accounted for you will charge them
at their cost value handing TO the collector any
money orders which you may have received therefor
taking his receipt which you viii Immediately forward
TO this Department. and make duo noto thereof In the
Journal ct your vessel
You viii the tracks made during your cruise TO
be distinctly traced upon the chart and all soundinga
stating depth Of water &c, entered upon the Journal
fun list OF all vessels boarded and spoken Specifying
those renewed, the itufo OF the assistance Afforded and
the position OF the vessel at the me, with abstract
Of the distance run by log will be transmitted 10 this
lei arment at the expiration Of the cruising the LIST
Of April next. am, very respectfully, &c,
JAMS Guthrie, Secretary &c the Irnassry.
Capt. VI. ID IicaIIs Ccm'g Rev. org Washington, New
lerh. Ny,