New-York tribune., 1899-02-12
GAY SCENES on THE HUDSON.
WHAT THE SEVERE WEATHER MEANS TO
THOSE WHO LIVE NEAR THE RIVER.

The man who predicts ice famine every year
n, about this time with the same earnestness and
clearness OF argument his brother who comes
along little later In the year with similar story
about the peach crop was driven out OF business
by the severe cold Of last week. There will b an
abundance Of ice N the lake regions in the Ad-
irondacks and IN the HUDSON and Mohawk rivers.
and the ice will be OF a superior quality because
much Of # was harvested before snow fell upon IT,
trip mp the Hudson River IN ice-harvesting
time reveals pictures Of which the average
suner OF ice has no idea. and the passengers who
have seats on the river side OF the Hudson River
trains enjoy views that make them wish that tho
trains might move less rapidly along the shore OF
the icebound stream.
Some Of the large icehouses the west shore
Of the river are already fun OF ice. This may be
seen from the fact that they closed and pre-
sent an unbroken wlndowless front Others are
closed part Of the way up and the long gaps in
the front Of the buildings from which platforms
project which lead 70 the ground show that there
IS stl space 70 hll The carpenter follows
closely on the neels OF the men who pack the ice
in the houses. and as soon as layer has been
plnced the opening In the house is closed on line
with the Ice within But the hoisting OF the ice.
which l. done IN the small houses by the old-fash-
toned block and fall process. and in the modern
icohouses by the endless chain. the ease with
which the great blocks are handled and packed into
the houses. are things which be studied only at
the scenes which may be witnessed from train
goiug hfy miles hour Large fields Of ice. in
some Instances extending more than halfway
across the river, staked out with poles. twigs
and saplngs which become lrm the ice grows
thick are swept and scraped when the cutting
time comes. and then the ice-cutting machines.
drawn by horses and looking Ike ordinary ploughs.
be,in their work \ marker also drawn by
horses. goes ahead and makes straight line into
which the cutter works until the heavy ice 10 10
inches thick. is cut through. When these cuts. 20
inches apart. have been made across large part
fastened on long poles. make the cross cuts. and
then the cakes foated toward The house. where
afy ae ghpB nds a ibem at 0 an % opening ii the
house. where me inside men DO me res. loss lose
be seen, who make use. Of the smooth surface until
the cutters come to drive them away. and passen-
gers In the wonder how people cGn be so fool
hardy venture near the open river. But
nresentIv thcv nnd more cause to marvel when
they iccboats racing swiftly before the wind.
IN some instances SO close TO the places where the
~" more iNebo,rs on The Hudson now than there
have been for many years. and the trials OF speed
between these fleet graceful racing machines are
the railroad coaches. occasionally one sees also
bicycle on the river. but the races between these
Wheel is soon ief, FAR behind
There are places along he river where the zee
Is kept broken 80 that ierry-boat may make
trips from shore 10 shore. II required much work
10 keep some OF these slips open last week. and
the strength of the Ice OF the sides or tne csnsIs
may be judged from the fact mat skaters ana Zee
I'm some instances only a few inches between them
and water. ~
and with the exception Of occasional fish holes ana
b,rr,sted the river IL an unbrOken sheet OF heavy
lee swarming In places with skaters, who watch
with interest horse races ana iceboat con-
tests AT Albany two great skating parks have
been cleared one either side OF the path which
has been built across the ice over which passen-
gers and trains, pass continually. Severe winter
Weather has rs terrors. but n seems 20 bring
much pleasure also TO those people who live near
the Hudson River.