New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-11
SKATING.
FIFTEEN MILES OF SMOOTH ICE IN HACK
TNSACK RIVER.

ENSACK RIVER.
The present winter has far brought Joy I'M
limited to those who love skating. They nave mao
cold snappy weather 10 their hearts content 'he
ice has grown thicker and thicker, and the SNOW
falls and Temporary thaws have so timed their
visits that I'm each case tho ice has been left smooth
and open. The ring of steel has for days sounded
merrly on the crisp air. and the only lover OF this
sport who Is disconsoate Is the NEWCOMER, VINO
IL pining for place where he can swing along III
freedom and not have TO forever turn in circle.
and shorten his strokes TO the curves ike cIrcus
horse or a scorcher In the Garden II Is TINS
that makes the clty-imprisoned skater srumoie AZ
the Kinks ponds and lakes provided in and near
the metropolis and long for a frozen river In the
omen country where he can stretch his legs and let
himself out
Not one man in ten knows that there Is such
stretch Of ice anywhere near this city Ihere Is.
however iust such n stretch within little over half
an hours tourney from Manhattan Island. IL Is
known to comparatively few. and by them IS
thought to be almost inaccessible. This stretch IS
the Hackensack River. where there is TO-DAY 'ne
best skating that can be found near New-forh
The ice Is at present writing az smooth as glass
and as solid az a wooden floor for at least ht'een
miles That is. n person can skate TOT "i'ee'
miles and not once put foot on place ne mas
already traversed. or once hear me da ng crack
The river is al present as safe Broadway Part
all is smooth, with the exception OF Few Spots
near Jersey city. where the water mas lro|e" III
waves and formed little ridges OF Ice 49,.
The Tackensack flows southwark through tne
northeastern part Of New-Jersey into Newark bay,
and is easv OF access. one good way Is 70 20 W
tho city OF Hackcnsack by way OF the ERE. OF
New York Susquehanna and Western. ana 20 On
inc ice there AS Iiackensack Is only aDout ioul-
teen miles from Jersey City the ride Is snor, one
one can also go to Leona, over me nor tneih
branch Of the Erie and after snort walk MS
ward from the station begin skating on tne CNeI
neck Creek which IL half as wide az the f1hcnrii-
sack and flows into the latter about three niIes
further on. nj Little Ferry. AL or tnese plAISes is
a re among the closest suburbs OF New ork anu ~
is only n matter OF minutes 10 reacn lneu ilolh
the CITY and begin skating IL one wishes nlse,
mile skate he can follow the river rlsh' uoMn W
the outskirts Of Jersey City IL ne WISHES
nine-mile skate he can take on his SKATES AZ tne
Uackensack Bridge. near Secaucus, and reach Jt,
sew CITY by trolley line, which runs over ,aio
bridge II he wishes to skate up the river ne ian
take this same trolley from the Delaware lacks-
wanna and Western ferry In HonoKen ana oe een
his fun AT this bridge The facilities are SO con
Ienient and the trains and trolley run so IRE
ouently that the business man who VIII take 'le
trouble TO try Il can obtain long aiterhoo1l vi
evening OF rare sport with little troupe. ooine
men who live near the Hackensack nave oi'e"
skated 10 and from their business IN New-iIa s .,
The only draw back 10 the skating corsis.s o.
three or -four br dyes which require snOIt ue'ouI
Nv land ana n few eel-holes. which however az
si,yavs visible M a distance. and freeze up t'en'
again within day after being cut one Sieat au-
rentaee ir tic absence OF the crowos WHICH ihlons
rink or a pond