The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-20

EFFECTS OF Ice UPON CoMMERcE-NEw YORK
CoNTRAsTED WITH OTHER SEAPoRTs.-The pre-
sent severe winter has furnished US with in
controvertible proof Of the great advantages
which the city of New York possesses over any
other seaport in the Northern, Eastern, and
even some Of the Southern States. While the
harbors Of Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and
other cities arc blockaded every winter by the
ice, ours, although not wholly free from it, is
still open to the commerce CT the whole world.
Occasionally, 1t is true, the accumulation and
freezing together of large cakes Of drift ice
cause temporary inconvenience to the running
of some Of the ferry boats, but it is only tenn
porary, and might be easily avoided. 1t is
different, however, with the harbor of Phila-
delphia, where vessels are as firmly frozen in
as they would be in the Arctic regions, and
where they are compelled to lie idle at the
wharves for weeks at time. Some years ago
one Of the Cunard steamers had absolutely
to be cut out Of the ice in Boston
harbor, work which cost several thousand
dollars, but the expense Of which was generous.
ly betrayed by the merchants of that city. The
Importance of New York to the commercial
world, in consequence of the uninterrupted a..
cess vhich it affords to vessels, cannot be over
rated. To this fact, as much as to her geo.
graphical position, is attributable her COM
handing station among the seaports of the
United States-a station that she will always
occupy, despite of the rivalry and jealousy OF
the Modern Athens or the Quaker City.
There was time when even our harbor was
frozen up, and when the inhabitants of Long
Island and New Jersey were in the daily habit
of crossing the ice over the East and
North rivers TO this city. That, however,
was many years ago, and is remen-
bered only by our Oldest citizens. The
present winter, which is one of the severest on
cord, the distractions in our harbor have not
,nterferred with navigation to prevent either
the arrival or departure Of vessels. We need no
stronger evidence Of this than the constantly
increasing feet of merchant vessels which
visit this port, and the remarkably rapid
growth of our commerce compared with that
Of Boston and Philadelphia.
The ice which, particularly at this season is
observed in our harbor, is detached from the
Hudson river by steamboats, and barges plying
between Piermont and New York. Pier
mont is the freight terminus of the Erie Rail
road, and the produce which is brought over
that road from the Great West is conveyed to
this city by barges and steamboats,. These
vessels, in making their way through the ice,
break it up, and it comes floating down the
river in masses Now, whatever obstruction
occurs to the navigation of our harbor, is
caused by these, and 1t will be gratifying to
our merchants and shipowners to learn that
even this obstacle will soon be removed. The
Erie Railroad Company have for some time
contemplated the removal Of their principal
freight depot from Piermont to a place on
the North river, between Jersey City and Ho.
boken, and which was formerly known as
Harsimus. They have already purchased an
extensive water front at this point and are
now engaged in completing their plan
for the construction Of bail dings for freight