The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-29
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ICE IN THE RIVERS.

DRIFTS IN THE STREAMS AND ALONG THE DOCKS
THE SITUATION UP THE HUDSON.
The first drift ice of the season made its appear
III the North River yesterday. but in such small
quantities that the various craft the river expert
enced but little difficulty from il. Here and there
ferryboat pilot had to come up to the slip under
more Roadway than common; moment or two of
hard crunching followed before the boat could be
made fast to tho pier but the whole delay to the pas
sengers board never exceeded minute
Boats plying in the stream once in while came in
collision with large foe. but the shock amounted to
nothing The ice only two three inches
thick and broke into small fragments at the smallest
blow. Fears were expressed however that the flood
tide which took place last evening eight o'clock.
would loosen the ice up the river and cause more
serious blockade round the piers to-day.
THE RIVER STILL FREE.
A HERALD reporter made inquiries at several
points along the water front and obtained par
down and to the probabilities of blockade taking
place. He learned that no ice had yet been on
the east side Of the city. and Sound steamers
first encountered it rounding the Battery.
Some drifts seen far down the Narrows,
but they small and the cakes were
very small and thin There are large accumu-
lations Of ice up the river An agent of Messrs.
Homer Ranisdell & Co.'s Poughkeepsie line OF steam
ers said that there considerable quantities
everywhere from Spuyten Duy~S to Newburg. From
there to Poughkcepsie there Is belitte. but above
that it is thick and solid that boat pene-
IL.
'.went up to Poughkeepse Thursday. She had all
the copper torn of her before she got to Newburg.
The river is very fresh from the heavy rains and it
freezes quickly into very hard ce Many miles
completely frozen over. Our boat has been repaired
and left Newburg at three to-day; she will
plough her way back This gentleman
did not think the ice would break up
tonight. unless the weather should become very
much milder II the tide should break It it would
solidify again in very short time the water Is
very fresh Other persons said to the reporter that
the morning tide was very ordinary and loosened
very little ice. and they thought improbable that
the night tide would suffice to break any very heavy
masses, such would cause difficulty round New
York.
and transportation business said that in his
judgment there is nothing to be feared from the ice
The river is frozen only above the Highlands
Below that the ice lies along the shore. but no
where very thick strong. He does not think any
masses yet accumulated that could give trouble
here He believes that IL any high tide breaks the ice
but little of it will drift down any There will. lie
said, .'be no ice OF any consequence till have
heavy snow storm.
The Yonkers boat which LETT that city for New York
yesterday had to cut through three-quarers of
mile OF ice before reaching clear channel.
THE FLOOD TIDE.
The flood tide, which reached its height ut about
eight clock last night carried large quantity Of the
loose ice that down the Hudson during the day
up the East River 1t lay in great sheet
ing about twothirds of the rivers width
the Brooklyn Shore strip OF clear water lay along
the New York side. The greater part Was in very
small pieces. only few large cakes being WISH
or two thick. 1t hoated loosely that the ferry
boats but little impedcd though the passengers
experienced unpleasant grinding sensation the
paddle wheels beat through the The situation
in the North River not materially changed. The
tide rose very high.
The ice in the bay yesterday caused some little de-
lay the trips of the Staten Island fcrryboats, the
boats leaving and arriving ten fifteen minutes
nffe their schedule time.