The New York herald., 1875-03-09
SNOW AND FLOOD AT PORT JERvIS.
CONTINUANCE OF THE FEARS OF INUNDATION--
THE EFFECT OF THE RECENT SNOW STORM
WAGON ROADS AND RAILROADS BLOCKED.

CONTINUANCE OF THE FEARS OF INUNDATIoN-
THE EFFECT OF THE RECENT SNOW STORM
WAGON ROADS AND RAILROADS BLOCKED.
PORT JERvIs n. Y, March s. 1875.
The heavy fall OF snow OF yesterday and last
night has added to the danger OF disastrous
flood in the Della ware. Ii showed from eleven
O'Clock yesterday forenoon until eight O'Clock this
morning, leaving TWO leet OF snow on the level.
while the violent wind OF last night has lett banks
OF great extent heaped up in places five ieet high.
To-day has been as warm summer, the ther-
mometer registering as high as 80 degrees. The
thaw has consequently been very great;
ana II it continues warm, two or three
days will see the now SHALLOW Delaware
river turbulent, raging food from bank 10 bank.
Then, II the theory or the experts VINO have de-
clared that the gorge at this place Will give way
the arst pressure OF hign water and ice from up
the proved to be fallaclous, no predictions
that have ye, been made as to the result Will be
found TOO eXtravagant The snow along the river
and Its trbu aries Is i've feet deep, and the vast
miles. must reach the river when converted iuto
water. No rain Will be needed now, II the weather
remains as IL Is for two days longer, to bring oown
upon us tine greatest flood known In the valley Tor
years. Tns mucl Is certain wnether the ice
gorge breaks or not.
on Saturday it was generally conceded that the
danger was over; to-day tho uneaslness and ap-
prehenslon OF last week are again visible. 1t Is
likely that an experiment VIII be made with burn
ing naphtha Oh the Ice gorge Tomorrow. 1t mas
been suggested to place three barrels OF tnat
bustip.e 10 every mile Ice aud 1re It, The effect,
IL Ii alleged, viii be to honeycOmb the ice and
rapidly rot aAd melt q cnaunel through. The eX-
pertinent Will be tried on a small scale first.
1t has been claimed by Engineer Chanute and
others that the channel OF the river was not at
the bottom OF the ice but was moving between
two layers, about ten eet below the surface OF
the mass. This theory would seem TO be proved
by the action OF the Ice last night. Near tue
lower part OF the Rorge 1t sank several
feet, and the water receded about five feet from
where It had been along the oanK. This can only
or ice had given away under the wearing OF the
water upon IT, and the latter had instantly sought
Its proper channel. There is no visible Indication
OF q break In the ice as yet. The whole body Is
gradually settling but continues 10 present
solid and apparently iinpenetrab!e 'front.' The
river Is rising, but, unless the tDaw con tnues
during the night, will have no effect on the ice.
The snow tnat fell yesterday and last night did
not extend Irtner west along the Erie Railway
rnan Owego where only hall an inch Is reported.
From Susauenanna depot east the road was
badly obstructed after eleven O'CLOCK last
ught at that time No. H. the night ex-
press, was reported eighteen minutes late. The
train did not reach here, however, until two
O'Clock this afternoon-nearly ten hours late. No.
3, the night express from New York due here
unti this morning. No. lelt here lor New York.
Tne Monticello Railroad Is blocked, SO that no
trains were run to-day. The wagon ROADS are
almost impassable, the Milford stage being four
hours rnls forenoon coming from that place TO
thls-eight niles.
Tne storm IS the heaviest known in this section
for year1