The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08
ICE BRIDGE AT NIAGARA FALLS
ONLY ONE PERSON HAS VENT
URED TO CROSS 1T.
That Vas John II. BARLOW. the Famous
Cave or the Winds Guide--Probable
Future Eject Of the Floods That
WIN Pour Out or tho Power Tunnels.

iHhl mas JOnn IL. harlow, tue FAMOUS
Cave OF the winds Guide--Probable
Future Eject Of the Floods That
WIN Pour Out OF tho Power Tunnels.
NIAGARA FALLS. Jan. 7.--Niagara has
its first ice bridge of the winter season.
1t began to form few days ago from the
slush ice that plunged down over the water
fall from the upper river and Lake Erie,
and became so firmly wedged between the
two shores that John r Barlow, the famous
Cave OF the Winds guide. had the audacity
and nerve to cross it Thursday afternoon.
Up to this writing Guide Barlow has had
no followers and appearances arc that 1t
Will be some few days before any other
person has the courage to cross.
When. on Thursday, Barlow decided to
cross, friends on shore told him Of the
danger but he waved them aside. Step
ping out from the inclined railway build
ing. he walked down TO the dock OF the
Maid OF the Mist usually safe place TO
get out on the ice bridge, and from this
point picked his way carefully, step by
step, out from the New York shore. IL
was observed that he selected about the
toughest part OF the icy structure over
which to cross. Further up the stream
the ice appeared more smooth, but this
Barlow avoided, preferrng TO trust his
footing among the ICY hillocks, where the
chunks Of ice had been tossed up by the
pressure from underneath. Those on shore
watched his progress with intense interest.
When he was well past the centre It was
evident that he was safe, for near the shore
the ice bridge lsstrOnger than IN mldstreain.
Barlow came back over tho upper steel
arch
The ice foe that helped form this Niagara
ice bridge was part OF what clogged up the
Buffalo water works intake. requiring
active work on the part OF many men 10
keep it open. II was the same that rushed
into the intake pipe Of the inclined railway
in Prospect Park filing it TO bursting,
and stopping the incline for several days.
II was hardly expected 10 build an ice
bridge but a cold turn OF the weather
seized It when the mass was floating slug
gishly about the eddies Of the gorge. hold
ing il fast until greater jam came down
and Chohs,i the channel
Ii is clear that the flood OF water that
pours out OF the tunnel Of the Niagara
Falls Power Company flowing across the
river at right angles Just below the upper
steel arch. has wonderful influence in
assisting in the formation Of an ice bridge
This rush Of water holds the Ice back
50 that it cannot freely pass down stream
and through the Whirlpool rapids and with
the holding back Of the ice the eddle- soon
fill, the stream clogs, and ice bridges de-
velop. In the very near future the force
% water from the new tunnel Of the Ca
madam Niagara Power Company will be
hurled into the gorge al the foot OF the
Horseshoe Falls The direction Of the
stream will he such that . will throw all
the ice that comes over the Horseshoe
Fall well over TO the New York shore and
IN this il will be assisted by the flow Of
water from turbines expected to develop
$50 00O horsepower in the station OF the
Ontario Power Company In the stream
that Dours from the tunnel Of the Niagara
Falls Power Company. and which fairly
cuts the lower river IN two, there IL repre-
scented the discharge from turbines de
veoping only l0j 900 horsepower, to which
must BE added the comparatively small
amount of water used to operate the mill
of the international Paper Company.
If this flow divides the river, what can be
expected Of the food from the 10000 horse
power wheels OF the Canadian Niagara
Power Company and the wheels OF the $780,.
O00 horse power OF the Ontario Power Com
pany Add 10 this the food that will pour
later on from the tunnel Of the Electrical
Development Company OF Ontario, Ltd,
in the development Of i25,OO0 horsepower,
aud it will I've clear that before many winters
the ice bridges Of the Niagara gorge Will
feel new pressure along their spine just
what will occur then can not be figured out
Residents Of hut a few years have witnessed
such u pressure on a Niagara ice bridge
that the mighty mass was hurled mp into
the girders OF the upper steel arch bridge,
bending several of them out Of shape.
Up 10 this time the general winter scene
about the islands and park has not been of
great beauty Now and then there is
pretty sketch, rs the spray ls waited here
and there among the trees or over the rocks.
But the real magnificent beauty Of this
gfnartaCla is n