The New York herald., 1877-01-07
THE ICE BLOCKADE.

THE EAST AND NORTH RIVER BOATS RUNNING
REoULARLY--THE CHOKE At HE'LL GATE
DANGER IN THE LOWER BAY.
The pleasure OF residing tho Jersey side Of the
Hudson of living in tho City OF Churches and doing
The delightful uncertainty to the timc required TO
cross the East and North rivers Is not apprcci.
alcd by business men and travellers generally
and the fur distant day when the Brookyn N
Bridge and the Hudson River tunnel shall be COM
ploted Is the only consolation they have Tor their
troubles On the North River yesterday the boats ex.
perenced little difficulty in making their regular
trips Large cakes of ice 1oated here and there but
the continual plying to and fro Of tho ierryDoats had
broken the rest Of 1t into small pieces. Tho
greatest difficulty experienced forcing tho boats
up against the bridges getting them In the slips
Great quantities of the broken leo choked up the slips
tho Hood tide and the bouts were often compelled
to back down several times and come IN with Increased
force make their through IT, On tho East River
ferries communication was regular during the day.
though the ce was plentiful The Staten Island Ter.
rics started ut regular hours, but were time
longer than usual IN making their trips.
Several vessels that started Tor Friday put In
at Staten Island tearing TO venture into The lower buy
on account Of the Ice there. There also un Der
OF them waiting at their wharyes Tor chance yet Oh
The rain which came down SO freely IN the evening
OF great scrvi ce In opening the way Tor them aud
they will doubtless be able TO get away to-day.
At HELL GATE
The scene at the Cato during the prevalence OF the
present leo blockade Is worthy OF reproduction by
painter, and Tor years no such interruption OF travel
has occurred Al ebb tide, especially when the water
leaves tho sides and surface OF the rocks far above
high water mark tho frozen masses cling TO
the dark colored rocks, and hang like giant
stalactues. Flood Rock Pot Rock and tho
remains OF tho Gridiron arc topped with crystals
piled up in every imagnabc manner aud OF every
FORM Az the westerly point OF Flood Rock, lacing
BlackwcIs Island, there the an old coa
soop, wrecked there last faI The wreck
nrmly and the old hulk s now covered with "a thick
cncrustati0n OF ice, heaped up Ia boulder Ike
proportions, Ike masses OF frozen snow, through
which tho tmbers are at times family 10 be seen
Passage by sailing vessels through the Gate IN utterly
through the ice, and every passing boat lights rs
way through with noiso distinctly heard on either
shore. Tho boats OF the Harlem and Morr,sa.
line nre compelled to take tho Western
channel OH their passage to Harlem River and they
often driit iaziy with the tide utterly helpless The
nearly beyond reach by reason OF unbroken sheet
OF solid reaching from tho point OF the cove TO Tho
shore
BLOCKED STREETS
President smith, OF the Police Board, yesterday
forwarded long communication 10 the Board Of An.
portionent asking for transfer OF SAG 500 rs from
the uncxpendcd balance OF the department for the
years 1874 and lS75 TO be applied tho expenses OF
tho current year. The street Cleaning Bureau, he
says, is sadly IN need OF funds The quantity OF snow
now bockading the streets Is estimated by Mr. smith
22g G66 cubic yards. He urges nm
reason why the appropriation should be granted that
the work would give employ mebt TO the needy work
ingmen. Reference IS also made IN II TO the made
quacy Of the unds now a the OF bureau TO
meet the current expenses OF the iorce thirty patrol
men more being In the department under the law than
was provided Tor ny the appropriation.