The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-12

there by the correspondence Of the HERALD.
We have no doubt that it will be equally new
to the people of Chicago to learn that there 10
daily sheet printed in Wall street. protesting
to be o newspaper, and called the Journal Of
Commerce. 1t is chiefly devoted to circulating
yearly advertisements for old fogy merchants
who commenced business before the independ-
ent press was established, and who get very
little lig 1t in their dusky counting rooms.
We are much indebted to the Journal Of
Commerce for it's endorsement OF our very large
circulation in Chicago, and as return for its
courtesy we give it this first rate notice, gratis:
Citizens of Chcago-When you want cheap
and certain opiate, gets copy of the New York
Journal of Commerce. 1t has been used for that
purpose during the last thirty years by few
hundred merchants, and was never known to
be imperative. If it fails to mesmerize the
most wide awake of you in five minutes, the
money will be returned!
The Ferrles-The Ice In the Harbor.
1t is not generally known that the new and
costly Atlantic Docks at Brooklyn, which
have Just been erected In order to Obviate the
interruption caused to trade by the severity of
our winters, have been rendered almost use
less this winter by the ice. Vast masses Of ice,
moved by the prevailing westerly winds, have
been jammed against them for weeks together,
SO that no ship could approach them or load
barrel or sack of the grain with which
they are crammed, and which, for all useful
purposes, might as we'll have been lodged at
Buffalo or Chicago.
The question now is, how are we to correct
the mistake that has been made?
No data have been made public whereby an
estimate can be formed Of the amount OF in
jury inflicted on the trade and shipping Of this
port by the ice during the past two months. 1t
is large, very large-not alone in actual loss
from injuries to vessels, but in delay and waste
Of time. Can no means be devised to prevent
this in future?
We took occasion the other day to draw at
tention to the useful purpose which night ferry
boats would serve by keeping the water in con-
slant motion, preventing the formation Of ice,
and breaking up the large cakes as they float
down from the North river. Men Of experience
are satisfied that if the communication between
the city and its trans -fuvian suburbs were as
the ice would seldom give any trouble
1t would be broken up as it floated down, and
would be carried of easily by the first ebb II
is only because it is allowed to jam and solidi-
fy during the stiffness Of the night that the
navigation Of the rivers is impeded. Now j.
may be asking too much that all the ferry
boats should ply at night. But if each ferry
would keep a boat constantly running from
nightfall to morning, on cold nights great
deal might be done. The expense Of one boat
during the night ought not to exceed $50 to
$40 and the enormous profits OF the ferries
would easily enable them to afford this
When attention was directed to this subject
during the severe winter of lS5l-'52, we pub
lished letters from George w. Blunt and Ro-
bert L. Stevens, suggesting the formation Of
an ice bridge in the North river, opposite Ho-
boken, as o means Of keeping the bay clear.
We republish those letters this morning. The
plan they suggest is very simple. The ice
which chokes up the bay comes from the North
river. If it can be kept there, the bay will be
clear. 1t can be kept there by anchoring
boats diagonally across, with floats between, so
as to stop the ice as it descends, and torn
into solid icebridge. The plan, as everybody
can see, is quite feasible. 1t was not attempted
in 1862, because the Erie Railroad Company re-
quired to keep the Hudson open in order to get
to their terminus at Piermont Now, the Erie
Company are building new track, which will
come out into the bay through Bergen Neck.
The objection, therefore, which was fatal to
Mr.. Stevens scheme in 1852, no longer ap-
plies; and it is seemingly well worthy Of
trial. The small expense of an experiment
should 60 for nothing, when the end sought is
SO great.
In connection with this subject we publish
two letters elsewhere on the ferries, one Of
which gives complete, and we have reason to
believe correct, history of the Staten Island
Ferry Company. The writer, however, was
evidently not aware that the Comptroller's
patience has at length been exhausted, and
that, after waiting ten months for the present
company, or their mythical representative,
Mr.. Smith, to sign the lease, he has at last ad-
vcrtised it for sale on the Sd of April next.
There is reason to believe that, for the first
time since this ferry was established, the lease
will be drawn in such manner as to ensure
10 the pupAc SOOu DOatS, regular Trips I'LL late
at night and ferry houses for Christians and
not for pigs; and, whether the present CON-
pany, in spirit of contrition, should resolve
to amend, sell off their unseaworthy boats,
build new ones, and be bound by the new
lease, or the ferry should pass into other hands,
! seems probable that the public interes
will be safe. The sale will be made, it is
to be hoped, to a fesh-and-blood purchaser,
with real securities. Last year, there was o I
foolish talk about the landings on the other
side being secured by the present company >
as to defy competition. This time it may be
presumed some gentleman learned in The lay