The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-22
Rho1e leland and the French SpOsaati0ss

The f,iowiug resolution passed the Legislature Of
Rhote is'ai.d aud Provi en- Phntadons:-
His txeeIercy the Gove'po having communicated to
this L. NEAL Assembly resolutions Of the Legislature OF
Masesauets strongly ufgtD on the United states gov
spc.ia lions mmitted their commerce. under suthori
ty OF tie Fer Oh government anterior to the year egh
teen hundred the indemnify for which vas assumed by
the United States and France released herefrom by the
convention OF that year. ratified in eighteen hundred
one ard the General Assembly copcurring Ia the opn
ion expressed by the Massachusetts lature, mad re-
a mug the report and resoleoas sdoped 1t the Janu
AIRY session. 1874 and csppg the report made By the
committee at the present session:
Do therefore resolve thst the said claims are honestly
due aud hat longer continue refusal o. nent aer
many av rabe reports Rave been made By committees
both Houses Of Cong would be DENIAL Of justice
by that august body hgay to it, character
and argranty injurious ~ our national credit
Resolved That his eucy the Governor be request
ed 70 ansit copies of these resolutions the fresi
dent of the United States the Governor OF each State
and to each Of our Senators and representatives, in Con
grees snd that said Senator'S and be re-
que all honorable means, and their most
Efforts 70 produce the pssssge Of an act which shall
give ul indemnity and justice to th,se long de-
iaJ ed md much injured caimsnts.
ATTEMPT TO BLOW Ur THE Ice IN PHILADELPHIA
"A FAnUxE "A series OF experiments were made yes
tsrsJ the Point House to ascertain the effect of
pewter in breaking up the ice and the possibility of
opening channel In the Delaware for the purpose OF ma
vgatiop. The experiment made under the direction
active and energetic members Of the committee
sisted BY the scientific skill Professors Rodgers aud
Frazier and Mr. VIM. Du BUST The field selected for
the experiments the channel directly opposite the
Point House HOTEL where the ice is twelve inches thick
fhe lrst trial made by sinking tin canister
contain ng pound of powder The blast was ignied
by battery Of twelve cups, standing the pier two
wires leading from II being placed in contact with the
powder. Immediately upon the connection being made,
squste made, and the water and ice thrown 70
height Of about five feet
For the second trial canister OF ~ pounds of pow
placed iGmediateiy beneath the ice, which,
being gned blew up water and ice before, but the
actual aperture made did not much exceed that Of cted
by the first trial.
In ths third trial a canister Of the size used in
the preceding experiment discharged, whom sunk
though there . conclusion, and radiating
cracks raced in the ice for circle OF sbou. ten feet
around the spot
The fourth trial was made with four pound canis-
ter when an aperture of about ten feet square was
For the 6fth trial keg containing 80 lbs Of powder
was 20 fest below the surface Its explosion caused
violent concussicn and vast body OF water, inter-
to height of 20 feet while the ice for considerable
disance around raised and then fell again with
affecting it's sodity The apert made in the Ice
not more than Is feet square.
discharged at a depth of only feet when ire
Kendous ooncussion ensued. A column of water
thrown net less than 40 feet in height hole 26 feet
in dame broken and the surrounding fields flee
inJuring its sodity further than causing few cracks
The water thrown by the force Of the explosion had
y deep green tinge, and presented beautiful effect
Another trial attempted with cask containing Is
came damaged and did not ignite whom the committee
and the scientific friends participating In the experiments
returned TO the city perfectly satisfied that imposs
Al Die set FIRE to the river with the aid Of the villa
nous satpetre,v and that folly to attempt open
ns the navigation by its agency Philadelphia Lei9r,