The New York herald., 1871-03-09
The Reopentns Of the Hudson.

Ino heOpenun8 Of tue huOSOus
The HERALD extracted yes terday from the
Albany Journal of the 9Th inst., vivid
description of the scene at the breaking up
and moving out of the ice last Sunday. Be-
tween Albany and Troy the ice had nearly
disappeared before the weakened and melting
mass gave way on Saturday. moving down
and blocking up the Boston ferry cut, where it
again became stationary, 'but not without
separating and dividing the immense feld into
thousands Of huge and massive blocks" 1t
must have been fine sight when on Sunday
first one portion and then another Of the field
gradually gave way and moved gracefully and
safely down along the city front. s'Without
any of the piling or the usual damage result
ing from the breaking up Of the ice after
hard winter, 1t passed away, and the residents
of the lower part of the city and along the
docks felt relieved as they saw 1t glide 80
smoothly out" During winter the Hudson
river, from its source In the Adirondacks to
within few miles of New York city, Is
entirely frozen over. Only five times for
nearly forty years has the river been suffi-
ciently clear of ice to admit Of navigation
throughout its whole navigable COURSE
that is, from New York to Troy Five
times it has remained closed until April
in 1843 SO late as April l3. Usually
it has been opened in March, but only
twice-in 1859 and 1862, on March Sat an
earlier date than in the present year. The
breaking up has now occurred three weeks
I,.t ssoI
it was the quietest and least dangerous that
has occurred in many years." Albany and
Troy may well be congratulated on having
| escaped the terribly destructive floods which
| generally accompany the breaking up of the
ice. Even on Saturday the pressure Of the
great mass of ice at the Boston ferry cut was
not sufficient to cause the water to rise more
than a single foot. The SHOWS had for some
time been gradually melting and disappearing
in the mountains, and this partly accounts for
the fortunate and extraordinary absence of
disastrous floods.
| SO soon as the ice still in the basin at Albany
shall dissolve the various boats which have
been locked up in it during the winter will be
| ready to take their share in the travel and
traffic Of the coming season. Overhauled and
reftted the floating palaces of the different
steamboat companies will ere long carry pas
sengers and freight either to Albany and Troy
or to any and all points east, west and north
west. with which the steamers of the Hudson
connect at Troy by means of the Rensselaer,
and Saratoga, the Vermont Central, the
Rutland and Burlington and Grand Trunk
railroads, and at Albany by means of the
and Albany and Susquehanna railroads. The
boats accommodate each from five hundred to
eight hundred passengers, and in summer are
usually crowded to their utmost capacity. 1t
ssss ss sssa e:s=ss:Ss .sas rs aggregate z
freight carried by the New York anu Troy,
the Peoples and the Albany day lines average
nearly million dollars in value daily. The
railroad freights and fares and the prices of
country produce must at once be cut down by
the early opening Of river navigation, and the
revival of the spring trade will be fastened
forward at least three weeks by it. Already
the most encouraging indications of an excep-
tionally gay and prosperous season begin to
be manifested by our crowded hotels aud
streets and our busy counting rooms, stores
and wharves. With each successive year we
have to chronicle the opening of navigation on
the Hudson as an event of increasing impor-
tance not only to the people of this city and
State, but to countless inhabitants of the States
east north and west of us.
ELLA CARRoLLs WAR CLAIM.-Ella Carroll
makes pretty clear case of claim on Con-
gress for plans and suggestions made to the
federal authorities during the late rebellion.
We think, however, she lacked wisdom in not
accepting the offer of five thousand dollars in
liquidation of her demands If she intends to
keep up the fight for hundred thousand dol
lars she is in danger of being gobbled up by
the insatiate lobby or claim lawyers and come
out at the little end of the horn. "a bird in
the hand is worth two in the BUSH" The
memories OF gallant and patriotic services
during the war are, unfortunately, gradually
becoming more and more obliterated, and
therefore we admonish the fair claimant in the
case before Congress to take what she can
get, and not run the risk of losing all.
In THE RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATURE on
Tuesday, according to the Providence Jour-
nal, several measures were advanced ''one
stage" 1t is not long since nothing but stages
were advanced through Little Rhody."
The MANURE QUESTION, thanks to the
glimpse Of the hereafter which the HERALD
gave several members of the Board OF Health
who were going astray, has been settled by
that body with a righteous Difference to the
absolute needs of our citizens. The Sanitary