Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-07
DYNAMITE USED IN ICE GORGE.
Harbormaster Pleased With Results
The Work in Unfinished State.

Harbormaster Sutton and his crew of ex-
perts have made great inroa6s into the ice
dam in the Potomac above the Three Sis
ters," and are greatly pleased with the de-
structive effect the large charges of dyna-
mite have had on the gorge that threatens
great damage to the city. Throughout
the day yesterday they attacked the ice,
using charges of twenty-five pounds Of dy-
Mantle and in this manner breaking off
huge masses to be piloted away by his fleet
of ice-hghting tugs. Hundreds of tons were
loosened from the pack and f1oated away
to the lower channel to be carried off by
the tides. Five different times charges
were fired yesterday and as many more to-
day.
The explosive was first tried in charges of
fifteen pounds, but these We're not found
very effective. The charges were then in
creased to twenty-five pounds. Holes were
drilled into the ice to a depth of six or
more feet and the dynamite was placed in
the holes. with wire attached leading
from the shore, which, when all was ready
touched off an electric spark that shot tons
of ice into the air and tore huge blocks
away from the mass for many yards in
every direction from where the charge
had been placed.
The first charge was touched off at IL
o'clock yesterday. 1t severed and In the
main overturned an area of ice 75x25 feet,
whose weight was figured at 400 tons. On
the average the work of the following
charges equaled this. The work of the tugs
began after the clearing of the smoke of
the explosions. The large sections of Ice
had TO be broken up and sent down stream.
Along the new wall other pieces could be
easily crushed off.
Quite a large crowd of people assembled
on the banks of the Potomac to watch the
fight against the blockade, and the sight
as huge blocks of ice shot into the air,
as from a cannon each charge was
made was thrilling one 1t is estima ted
| that the 5000 appropriated by Congress
| for relieving the Potomac of ice has been
used TO great advantage. but is almost ex-
! hausted. or will probably not last until the
work Is completed. There Is still a long
| stretch of Ice to be broken into and the
| danger is increased by the fact that the
| river is frozen across for many miles above
| the city. AT the Chain bridge the ice Is
| said TO be from fifteen to twenty feet
! thick.
| Commissioner MacfarIand stated today
| that he is very much gratified at the sue
| cess or the experiments with dynamite in
! breaking up the ice gorge Oh the Potomac
yesterday. Several experiments with the
| explosive were made early last week and
| the results at that time were of such ma
| ture as to discourage its use. However,
| Harbormaster Sutton. with about 200
| pounds OF dynamite. went up the river yes
/ terday morning and the experiments were
| repeated with such marked success that
| the authorities now believe the clearing of
| the river will be effected within a short
| time.
| The work of dynamting the gorge will
| be continued for several ways. The tug
| boats VIII be kept at work also brea king
| up the detached sections of ice into small
| blocks and working II down the river and
! through the piers Of the Long bridge, SO
| as to prevent gorge at that structure,
| The cost of breaking the Ice with dyna-
| mite, 1t is stated, is about $45 a day in.
| Guiding the salary paid to the expert oper-
| ating the explosive.