, 1875-02-27
CLEARING THE RIVER.

EA
hleesrs, Prlndivilla md Thompson, OF tho
Board Of Public WorLs, Engineer Chesbsough,
and other hardy gentlemen, selected yesterday
Afternoon, at halt-past o'clock as fit anu
proper time wherein 10 froozo their nosos anu
s1porlmont With tho noted "NcuA-rock blasting.
powder" in tho Formidable ice-ileld at tho mouth
Of tho rycs, opposite Tho lght-house Tho o.
Dtosiye material, which WA made ZIP IN llAlf-
pound cartridges, was handled by Mossrs. Cos
Brothers, who alowad great ek.ll in its use. and
Rhook tle frozen mass to quits a respectable
extent, aftor numerous efforts. Tho modus ope.-
anli was to drill hole III tho ico.-wl,ich at tho
point indicated waB found to bo feet and
5nchos t,ick,-untiI the water Wns reachc<l. when
tue cartridge was placed iu position beneath tho
LIMITED, 1t tho latter point, everybody ran away
~ fast as possible, e1pecsin' to no blown np or
hit by fragment Of frozen w.tor. Iho cx,
plosion sounded liko Tho report Vi cannon AMI
lilo effect produced was diBcornhlc for q long
distance by cracks in tiIu frozen bsfncc. although,
diameter Of about feet. When two
c.triaGes we're placed n.r;,nont in tue #sme
who Witnessed the ntTair confeasad that 1t would
take millions Of cartridges to burst tho Whole
mouth Of tha rlvor up, mud, Horse shan al, tue
place would ho frozen aolid again In few hours.
the board Of Public Works roaort to the simple
aud elective o1podlent OF placiuE salt on tho
.ice7 It Ia known to science that 2 inchoa
thick OF Halt will reduce ucheH OF leo to Hllldge
III four hours, and mill cut through > feot thick
IN thirty-six hours. 6alt il Cheap aud, surely.
this experiment iH worthy Of trial. 1t will
cost less for salt than for cartridges with tho
difference that tho former will be muEe effective.
The a nend-rock is magnificent III fntneral-
vrccLer, but 1t cannot destroy tho leo IN the
harbor Therefore, lot uB i.ayH talt, and plenty
OF it.. This Ia really tho only practical ulotlod
OF dealing with tho ire1ontl.
The great difficulty about tho 'iso Of powder
r. that II to-day te Ice IN thu riret were asint-
In very briof period with the prevailing tenn
perat..re, and then, when tho iloods caino, the
Nork done would have been wasted. Tbs ealt
can be put on now. NIL ths WY from
ssa ss m9a1 saleet brase ias RIVER aud Vii vii
gradually and Atcadly doing Its work while wait.
ing for the flood. II would conyclt tho leo into
s!Idge, whlcl, could hot gorge, and would not in'
terfero with tho motions Of weasel, while caker
OF leo, Het iooH0 by tho uao OF POWDER. mtEhl
easily unite aud form au obstruction. Tho ie,
s.usl, saturated will. brilIe would resIBe the ac
tion OF tho cold. nalesh It were very uovcre, att
would not DO affected by The frcRh wntcr whlcl
All caateriy wind might drive In from tho laao
whore tho ice u already very thin GMnt M
even woro Il atrewn ovcrymhoro thu
cost would bo triting. 1t may DO Remembered
city something like el,0y0.00!l. autl Bhonla |
frcshet como here tho loss would bo ton time
what It mas there.
Tho sEggestion Of Fire-Alarshnt psuner. tha
tue ice could 10 cut out in day, must T. lns y,
boon giyeu without duo consideration. All til
men lii Chicago could not cut ont tint field ~
week, md then tho river w0nl bo frozen Hot
with this weather, after tssoy got through.