New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-12
THE DELLA WARE ICE GORGE.
WAITING FOR THE FRESHET.

WAITING FOR The fREShEE.
CROWDS or VISITORS TO LOOK AT THE ICE FIELD
HARVEST FOR LANDLORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
METHODS OF USING NITRO-GLYCERINE AND
POWDER.
lFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
PORT JERvIs, March 10.-There is little
change In the condition OF tho glacier but
feels that the IA because at this season
n'ods always come aud tho 200 miles OF Ice In the river
ABOVE Lackawaxen must break up In few days Hun
"reds OF people drive the country stop
from one train to another to look at the great
Local artists drive lively trade by taking Photographic
views OF the Ice which eagerly bought by visitors
some or these views largo scale may be seen
framed In shop Windows Landlords say that the gIa-
cier helpingtbem through the dull season by increas
lnR inc number OF visitors. while the small liquor deal
ers complain that the danger OF nundation has al
most ruined their credit with NewYork wholesale mer
chants.
The naphtha experiment has been postponed on nc
count OF the OF the aud sent for yesterday
TINS experiment is awaited with good deal OF curios
ity and everybody is talking Of the great bonfire that
VIII be onit and specializing to Its probable effect
The experiments In blasting with giant powder aud
nitro-eiycerine draw crowds OF curious gazers Tne
process worth describing. Tne nitro which
Is always transported Ia frozen state account Of It's
being less liable to explode in that ooniton-t freezes
at 4oo Els first carefully thawed out and ncosed In
TIN tubes two inches diameter and ton inches long.
which VIII hold two pounds OF the explosive.
These are connected by means Of long wire
with an electric battery placed at distance
from the point OF operations Men armed with spades
ana iron prods are sent ou upon this ice aud favora
bio spot being chosen. hole Is made reaching down to
tho water. heavy stone then attached by cord to
the can Of gycerne which is carefully lowered through
the hole In tho Ice until 1t rests upon the bottom OF the
ver. The operators then retire distance OF two
three hundred yards. and at signal the battery Is put
In action and spark passing the connecting wire
sets OF adetonatng in tho top Of the can dull
sound Is heard OF water accompanied by blocks
OF Ice and from tho rivers bed shoots twenty or
thirty feet into the and the work Is DONE These
blasts to DO effective have to be made at the foot OF the
gorge where there strong current OF water to carry
away the Ice which is upheaved. An ordinary Ice jam
might soon TO broken up by this means, but
u whole days blasting at tho great gorge here
makes no apprecabe difference In It's size condition.
Giant powder 10 used alternately with tue gycerne and
it Is regarded by tnc crowd OF gaz.rs wno keep at
respectful distance from tbs scene OF operations, with
moro favor than the Latter probably because IL makes
much more noise. The powder put In FOUR pound
cans and exploded by tabular fuse let down through
the water.
THE RIVER RISEN A FOOT AND THE SNOW STILL
MISUNDERSTANDING EXPERIMENTS CONTINUED
THE USE or NAPuTuA POSTPONED.
IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIDUSEl
PORT JERvIs, N. Y, March 1.-THE snow
has thawed fast TODAY. aud the Delaware has risen
about foot The ice in the Neversink gives signs OF
breaking up Tie blasting operations have been
carried on to-day with success. A channel 800
feet long has been cleared at the lower end OF the
glacier where Is thick curious Ice cavern ten
feet deep. In the bottom OF which water was bubbing
up. disclosed by tho blasting. Police regulations
keep back the crowd Of spectators who insist on put
ting themselves and the operators in danger will be
adopted tomorrow All that Is expected to be accom-
plshed by operations Is the weaken
ing Of tho lower end OF the glacier. One-quarter OF
mile above Its foot tho gorge becomes heavy that
blasts would accomplish much, and they VIII not be
attempted Till high water comes to carry away the
debris. Good weather aud favorable circumstances
alone can prevent great disaster aud the attempt TO
open the channel Is Intended only to give the natural
forces as much room possible work in Meanwhile
whose property Is in danger await tho end with
anxiety. The cost OF naphtha having proved to be
than was expected the OF melt tho Ice
has been postponed. To-day the mrace again over
flowed the tho bridge TIE weather ID Cloudy
and IL promises to continue thawing all night