Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-29
THE DELA WARE ICE GORGE.
Correspondence of the New York Tribun,


Correspondence of the New York Tribune.)
Delaware Water Gap, Penn, March 25.-This
is the point at which the Delaware River passes
through the Blue Mountains. From Port Jervis,
N Y, which has been the principal point of at
traction on the Delaware during this season OF
ice gorges, the river runs about 40 miles in gen.
eral south-westerly direction. Half a mile above
this village the course changes to nearly due
south. Nearly mile below here, in its passage
through the mountains, the river makes sharp
bend to the east and very soon turns suddenly
southwark again. After leaving the Gap it pur-
sues general southerly course. The mountains
through which the river makes its way are nearly
perpendicular on each side, and present bold
and rugged appearance The strata are tilted
very much, and in many places stand at an angle
of over 65 degrees. The course of the river
through the mountains is nearly in the form of
letter S. The village is small, containing between
| 400 and 500 inhabitants. 1t IS mostly situated on
| high ground, back from the river and ont of dan
ger of any inundaion; but the railroad depot and
| a number Of houses situated near it are liable to
| be damaged if the water overdows. The great
| ice gorge terminates about seven miles up the
been carried down the Delaware for about $50
miles, including the gorge which recently threat
ened the village Of Port Jervis. The mountains
and country in this vicinity are covered with snow
| to the depth Of two or three feet, and slcighng
has continued since Christmas Nothing is need
ed now but sudden thaw Of two or three days or
warm rain to melt all the snow upon the hills
| along the delaware and its lateral branches and
produce general flood. The immense amount
| of ice piled up IN the gorge would thus become
| loosencd, and would pass down the river and I'M
doubleday cause untold amount Of damage. 1t
is almost inevitable that when it does come it will
clog up and form another gorge just above the
| sudden curves through the mountains. The Del
| aware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad would
then be covered and torn up and travel interrupt
| ed. Telegraphic communication will also be in
tcrcepted if this occurs. If the ice succeeds in
passing through the tortuous windings OF the
| river in the mountains the bridges further down
the river will be in great danger. The wagon
| bridge at Portland, FIVE miles below, is a wooden
| structure and not very secure; the ice is almost
certain to carry it away. If borne down it will
strike against the railroad bridge at Delaware
Station and damage it, although the ice itself
might pass without endangering it. Still further
down the river there are numerous bridges which
| cannot escape if the enormous quantity of ice in
the gorge breaks up at one time and floats down
| 1t body.
The Railroad Company continues its work of
cutting channel through the ice in the middle of
| the street. For about ten miles below the lower
end of the gorge the ice has not yet broken up. 1t
remains as solid as ever, with the exception OF
about half mile opposite this village, where the
current is more rapid in some places open water
NAV be seen A force of 65 men has been at work
to- day with picks, shovels, and saws in clearing
passage for the water. The channel has been cut
| for nearly two-thirds of mile and the cakes of
ice are foated out and allowed to go down stream.
| Their passage is Intertered with by quantity OF
anchor ice which has collected at the lower end of
the solid ice. Experiments were made to-day to
shatter the large cakes which are sawed OIL.
| Blasting powder was used, and the experiment
was partially successful The blasting will be
continued to morrow with powder, and possibly
open channel exists in the middle of the river at
that point where it passes through the sharp
curves of the mountain, the first rise OF water Will
l loosen the ice the shores and allow 1t to be
carried out thus leaving the entire river clear IN
| that portion where the ice is most liable to form
another gorge when the present one breaks up.
POLITICAL.
| Before long there will be a consolidation of the
internal revenue districts in New England.
The general verdict on Andrew johnson seems
to be; "IIe is the same old sixpence."
The Cincinnati Gazette thinks that the capacity
to mend the Constitution is more generally diff
fused than the ability to make willow whistle.
In five States of the Union the Governor re-
ceiyes a salary of but $1,000. These States are
Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island and Vermont.
The Syracuse Standard says that the canal con-
tracts that have been exposed in New York are
but specimens of one hundred and forty-three Of
the same character now in operation.
Senator Thurman is quoted as having called tie
Louisiana resolution 'the thinnest cruel that was
ever poured down the throat of a sick patient"
And vet the Democratic Senators all fought
against it as if it had been the strongest kind of
castor oil.
The Connecticut democratic papers are exercised
over the spread of new secret political Society,
styling itself the "Order of the Stars and Stripes,
imported, according to one authority, from New
Hampshire. The New Haven Register thinks it
should be Stunned by the patriot as he would
shun viper"
How lovely everything was three months ago!
Our democratic leaders were in the checriest and
sunniest mood. The affection between Tilden'
Kelly MoIrissey and Wickham recalled the ira
ditions of the friendship of David and Jonathan
or Damon and Pythias. But here the winter has
not broken; the Hudson is still locked mp with
ice, and we have recliminations. Wickham mu-
TIMES against Kelly, Kelly despises Morrssey, the
democratic Speaker denounces the Democratic
Governor, and all is confusion and msunder.
standing. The Manhattan Club darling pre-
sides over the patronage Of Tammany and all
that left for the faithful is to troop to the Fourth
avenue improvement and dig and blast for two
dollar. day.-New York Herald.
GENERAL Ne US.