New-York tribune., 1908-02-10
ICE BLOCKS RIVER BOATS.
Trouble Expected To-day an At
tempt to Resume H0rbor TrdHc.

,,,,,bas :. ex,.c,ed in the harbor and along tho
waterfront when the ferryboats- tugs ana IghueTs
ztternpt 20 return 10 normal trafhc TO-DAY apart
from -he few ferryboats that moved IN the hay
-..era., -hs-e Was little or no traffic, and with
-e-anerst,,re throughout the day cold as any
.hi. winter 1t is expected that the ice in the har-
hor problem Will be a hard one to settle
Nearly every Sunday, when the weather permits
lighters and carfosts Shifted across the rivers
nd around the Battery to piers n South Brook
1vp Few tugs were seen about the harbor yes
-erfar and the ice had splendid chance 10 freeze
hard The North River was divided yesterday A
clear waterway extended almost third of the way
out from the New Jersey shore but the other two
thirds were well filed with icehoes. and il was
thought by many old boatnlen that child OF nifty
rounds might walk midstream with safety.
There was practically no movement IN the ice
pack such as is noticeable when the ice Is thin
and broken ,5r No cne dared the strength of
-he ice bat II generally believed that the pack
viii resist the big ferryboats when they attempt
to leave and go into their piers today All slips
are well damned. and of the Battery, where there
is usually much the big cakes froze soidly
10 each ether. From the Barge Office it was i'm
possible 20 see q continuous channel wide enough
for the average tug
The iceracR is thick above the Brooklyn Bridge
and along the Atlantic docks. Bush's Stores and in
Erie Basin Many sailing vessels and tramp
steamers unloading the Brooklyn piers, and
small number is ready 10 clear port to-day.
ice four and five inches thick has clustered around
vessels, and trouble is expected when efforts
are mace to-day shift them nlidstreaIa-
AS many pier owners charge for usage by the
day. steamers and sailing vessels ready for sea
viii be under considerable excess charges If they
sre unable 70 leave the piers The average tramp
steamer can usually leave her pier with the as
sistance Of one tug. but IT is expected that more
,.lsn one will he needed crush the ice now
about them
The White Star liner Cedric. covered in patches
with frozen spray. up 10 Ser pier yesterday
with little difficulty. Her e1.000 tons were too
much for the ice. which gave way before the big
steel bow Ike much sawdust she CAME abeam
Of her pier.
The American Line dock. which had ample oppor-
1141lity - freeze after the departure OF the
Philadelphia SATURDAY. flied with ice when
tie St Paul came up from Quarantine Yesterday.
Three tugs which had been engaged to assist her
In docking were used break up the ice at the
entrance to the dock shortly before the St Paul
passed the Battery. Tugs were also used for ice
breaking in the White star dock before the Cedric
arrived
No fer-yboat crossed Brooklyn yesterday until
noon. when one Hamilton avenue boats made
one round trip
The immigration cutter Immigrant broke her
-udder in the ice Quarantine while steaming for
The American liner ST Paul, and had be tow-ed
Several fughoat owners reported having
cancelled their contracts Cor to-day. fearing the
might in jured by the ice.