The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-23
THE THAW.

The continued mildness OF the weather Is exer-
cisng marked influence upon the Ice in both the
North and East rivers. Now there Is little OBJ
struction from this cause TO DE met with, and
navigation by the numerous steamers, ierryboats
ana other craft has once more become possiDil-
ity without the attendant concomitants OF delay
and danger with which the trips were attended
but few days since. 1t is not expected, however,
that the trouble Is altogether over. Tor the I'M
mense mass OF ice (Which has obtained extraor-
binary thcknessl in the Hudson at and above
Yonkers will. when it breaks up. as 1t must. under
the warm rays OF the sun, within q lew days, cause
great deal OF inconvenience, If 1t does not result
in serious damage To the Shipping. Should a
heavy transform occur, similar TO that which hap
pened last year the breaking up OF the
winter. and bring about
FREsHEr,
the effect will oe, 1t is thought by old pilots to
bring down the ice In large fields and foes. viii CHI
from their great weight and thickness. Will carry
every thing before them with irresistible force
In lact 1t Is said that thousands of dollars worth
OF property in the shape OF ships and boats must
inevitably be lost unless the greatest precautions
are taken by hauling all vessels into sale oerths
on the first indications OF any such storm. Yester
day the ierryboats plying between New York and
New Jersey made their trips with something like
Old time regularity. The ice was nearly all broken
up into small cakes, although now ana then huge
hummock was met with which had to Ds steered
clear or AS general rule, however, these
miniature icebergs passed over and broken
up into fragments by the ierrvboats. In the slips
there was st considerable quantities OF Ice
gathered, but 1t was too small and TOO often dis
turled by the incoming ana Outgoing boats TO
cause ahv inconvenience.
or THE EAST RIVER
the ice has ceased TO be OF any moment and offers
scarcely any impeachment 10 tralllc II having be-
come broken and the
1erryboats are ali running on time. aud the opin-
ION seems 70 prevail that there Will be no more
trouble experienced. Along the different docks
some degree Of activity - again TO be witnessed,
ana vessels winch have Tor some time been COM
PEELED TO lie Idle in their oerths, on account of
the mpOssiblllty OF making their way out to
through the ice, are now bending their sails and
setting things to rights generally, preparatory to
clearing out on their wa, to their several ports OF
destination.
Is stu full OF Ice, and II Is with the some difficulty
That vessels make their way through. The various
steamers running between New FORK, New Haven,
Hartford, New London aud other points were TO
resume their trips yesterday via He'll Gate and en-
deavor TO force Il passage.
THE FIRE HYDRANTs
The work OF thawlng out the ire MIGRANTS In the
lower part OF the City was continued yesterday by
different fire companies by means of steam Oh.
tanned rom their engines, whlcn nave been taken
around the streets Tor That purpose. Inc con-
'Inued rising In the temperature O The air Is
menclng TO tell, and II IL but lasts Tor a lew days
longer the danger from frozen hydrants VIII eu-
TREY disappear. In the meanwhile the Fire De-
under their control go around with tneIr engines
and 90 what they can to clear out the ice, and put
the nydr tnts in such u state that II a tre should
break out water can be obtained without delay.
PLAN.
MIR. Culyer the Chtei Engineer OF Prospect Park,
suggests a plan by winch hydrants may be pre-
vented from reeZlng. BY this plan 1t Is proposed
that all the street ny drants snail be placed below
the surface OF the sidewalk, and to enclose them
by either a BRICK chamoer or cast iron cylinder. SO
That they can be got at easily. AT the bottom OF
the barrel he would place vltrlled pipe connect
IA u
IN the hydrant alter 1t Is closed VIII be Imme-
diately conveyed away. aud, as the water 10 ad-
United to the hydrant by valve four and hall
or five 1eet below the surface, there Will be no
chance for the water to lleeZe. All hydrants are
now provided with seli-acing valve, through
which the waste water In the barrel IL supposed 10
be removed when the Migrant Is closed after use :
but TINS valve does not always act. No provision
Is made by which the waste can ESCAPE except by
percoation through the ground When the ground
Is frozen 1t VIII De readlly seen that the water
must remain above the valve and soon becomes
solid ice Mr.. Culyers plan obviaLes ali this.