Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
RIVER ICE SIXTEEN
INCHES THICK
Navigation Perilous and May be
Suspended at Any
I imc.

Ice conditions on the Delaware river
continue perilous Wilson Line freight
boats showed their way through the ice
60 and from Philadelphia, but whether
they will he able to repeat this tomorrow
~ question:
measured 10 inches in thickness. But
this piece had not been disturbed. Where
the ice is broken UP other chunks have
adher, 4 +, il, and in many instances these
pleces are many feet In thickness.
The coal bargcs Pritchard and Phoenix,
Boston for Philadelphia, which were fast
IN the Horseshoe after the tug Patience,
which had them in tow, became disabled,
were pulled out Of the ice yesterday by
the tug Caspian and towed TO the Port
Richmord nlcrs
The entire Delaware river and bay
Il covered with a thick coating of ice,
varying IN thickness from one to 10 feet.
Tins immense body OF ice is working back
and forth with the change OF tides, grad
ually gaining IN thickness.
The Christiana river, which usually
keeps itself clear, owing TO the current,
Was full of drift ice Yesterday, much
of which had been forced upstream by
hack water. The ice extended to q point
lust below the Market street bridge, and
from there on up the river large guam
ti;ics of drift ice wee to be seen with an
occasional open space.
The Brandywine is one sohd mass
clear below the Market street bridge,
and from that point on down TO the
Christisna is full of drift ice.
Many Of the boats at The Orchard"
eft high and dry on the banks by the
last freshet, are comparatively safe, but
the owners, remembering the last high
water, arc taking every precautlon TO
prevent another loss this winter and were
there in considerable numbers yesterday
getting their boats IN shape for the break
ing up of the river. which, 1t Is thought,
will bring the highest water seen here
IN many years.
The Wilson Line has posted notice
cancelIing all boats to Philadelphia and
points across the river, but will endeavor
10 maintain a service twice q day until
prevented by the ice.
The uncertainty of getti"g across the
river and the necessity for changing the
schedule has compelled the Garney's
Point plant 10 adopt, temporarily, new
schedule for the workmen from this city.
Following is a copy of the notice apply
ing only TO Wilmington workmen:
"On account of the extreme ice con-
ditions IN the river, 1t has been decided
70 discontinue the hOat leaving fouFtn
street wharf at o.45 p. m, Sunday. Mon
day. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday nights, February 3, 4, 5, o,
: and ;. THIS OF course automatically
discontinueS the boat leaving Deep Water
Point wharf at r. 40 these same nights.
'In order to afford all employees liv-
ing IN Wilmington an opportunity to
make the same amount of time under
these conditions that they would ordI-
narllv make, also interfering as little
a. possible with the operations Of the
plant. the following schedule of work for
men on the 1 TO u and II to 5 shifts
has been worked out:
'Employes living in Wilmington who
will report for work st 4 p. m. Sunday
Will work a double shift, being relieved
NJ p. IN. Monday
Employees on the - to s shift who
should report at midnight Sunday, will
report at .. m. Monday and likewise
work a double shift until 5. Tuesday
morning.
Those who work from p. M, Sunday,
until s g. m. Monday, will report for duty
at4p.m. Tuesday, ready to work double
shift until 5 a. N. "Wednesday. Like
gise. those who worked a double shift
Monday night will again report at 4 p.
NJ. "Wednesday and work until 5 q. m.
Thursday Those who worked double
shift Tuesday night will again report for
another double shift at ! p. N. on Thurs
day Those who worked double shift
on "Wednesday night will report again for
smother double shift at p. m. Friday.