The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-13

MORE BNOW-L0b4 10 THE HOADS AND To THE
f CITY or CHICAGO.
From the Chicago Press, Feb. n
At the commencement of the late series OF storms,
Inconvenience felt by the companies and the public re-
suited mostly from the interruption Of travel and the
delay a,ls 1, Of the mails i, Which %da, it Was RS, hoped eSp d., would Ssi .d BE- RENE;
beyond all anticipation. We are now in the third week
Of the embargo, and during most of this time railroad
the north, west and south. The Chicago and Milwaukis,
Illinois and Wisconsin, Chicago and Galens, and the
the Dixon Air Line, the Chicago and Aurora, the Chicago
and Mississippi, and the Chicago Branch Of the Illinois
Central, roads remain impassable-not q train having
ment of the storm. Our communication with the East
may be said to have been open most Of this period for
have passed over the two roads in this direction; and,
SO far as heavy freight Is concerned, business with the
m msas 1 Of the Issp qa iSss.S 1 nIoccsads to Shicb y We : 0f bsye 'l Seso
The loss to the ranroad companies centering in our
city has been very serious. II reckoned by time alone,
1t would amount to about four per cent upon the entire
business Of the year; but as the distractions have oc.
CURED at q season when business Ii usually less active, the
estimate may prove q little too high, as we trust it win.
But the loss sustained by the companies, in damages to
locomotives and cars, wl add very considerably TO their
aggregate loss. Some of the cars, as we have already
stated, have been cut up bodily for 6rewocd TO keep the
passengers from freezing, and frequent collisions with
cessary. The damnge to the locomotives win be much
more considerable. There is hardly one upon the block
AIDED roads in the State that will not require to be taken
into the machine shop fer repeairs to a greater or less
extent. The chief injury has resulted from the freezing
OF water in their boilers, BY which valves were bursted,
ure 10 the weather alone viii be NO slight damage to
them, and a large number must be still buried in snow
heard OF seven, q day or two since, in this predica.
ment upon the Chicago branch of the Central alone.
out, II they should not be otherwise injured. 10 these
losses must be added the cost to which the companies
have been subjected By the employment Of . large mum
Der OF men to clear tho tracks, amounting to hundreds
IN some instances upon q single road and who have often
been engaged for several days together, it having been
necessary to do the work over and over again. We shall
not undertake to make an estimate of all these aggre.
gate losses to our railroad companies. The facts above
stated will enable our readers to make an approximate
estimate for themselves.
In this connection it is proper to speak Of the EN-
ployes upon the roads, who, If they have not suffered
health, and even their lives in the heroic discharge of
duty. Day and night they have been found at their
have had their hands and feet frozen, and thereby been
temporarily disabled, and all have had their powers Of
endurance pretty thoroughly tested;
the business of our city has suffered by these protracted
railroad distractions. As compared with former activi-
ty, business has come almost to a stand. still. Merchants
and bankers alike complain of the difficulty Of obtain
ing remittanees from the country, with which to meet
their engagements and accommodate their customers.
A dearth Of currency in the usual channels, Of course
leads to stagnation in all departments of business and in.
dustry. But even money cannot be used TO advantage
while this state of things continues. We are credibly
informed that q large number of packages Of money now
lie idle 10 the express offices here, transmitted to our
OEDWlbblO m6ICO8uLb q y purchase OIL prOuuce on
eastern account, but which they refuse to take out while
the present obstacles in the way Of purchase and ship
msnt remain. But little produce can reach US from any
uncertain to be relied upon with any confidence.
A friend of ours is now in this city from New York,
commissioned to buy 1000 hogs, either dressed or alive,
for that market; but for the present he can do nothing.
This transaction alone would distribute some $40, 900
through the community. The movements of scores, IL
not hundreds OF others, are no doubt similarly restrained
by the continuance Of the embargo. When we shall be
relieved from these endorsements still remains q pro-
HAM We loaru that fha unnn III prasrsoa .otar
day was dri ting M freely rs ever, and last night a fresh
instalment Of snow was falling, apparently the com.
There is one consolation in the midst Of our trouble,
which is, that winters as severe as the present do not
not be obstructed by snow. In 1880 we had what was
called "the deep snow, y causing, when it melted, an
extraordinary food in the Illinois, the marks Of whi:h
In 1876 we had . winter very similar to the present,
which continued SO far into the spring that Thousands OF
cattle died from starvation In Northern Illinois, Wiscon-
sin and Indiana. The next severe winter was that Of
lS49, which will be fresh In the remembrance Of many
Of our citizens. During that winter, however, the snow
was so in,ermingled with rain that there would have
been no difficulty in keeping q railroad track clear. had
any at the time existed here. II a little rain had fallen
during the present series Of snow storms, sufficient to
give the snow a crust upon the surface, but compare
lively little difficulty would have been experienced in
winter is u~hexampled in the history of this region for the
last twenty years, and we trust IL will not be paralleles
panies viii be much better prepared TO meet a similar
emergency by having on hand snow plows Of the moet
efficient construction, and all other possible appliances
for keeping the tracks free from distractions.
ANOTHER LITTER FROM THE SNOW D~RIFTs-BURN.
ING OF THE PASSENGER HOUSE AT EARLvILLE.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Democrat
EARLvILLE, Jan. %, 1856.
the question of the most absorbing interest is-when
shall we get through to Springfield Public opinion is that
this will occur some time in the course Of the winter. Our
private opinion is that this event win take place some.
time after we have a thaw, as the chances are against its
iect Il about as uncertain as II. verdict = Ipn Of = : n ! ate i ;urv
before n Pennsylvania backwoods' justice.
Yesterday We reached this point, and in the evening
returned to Chicago, when we awaited ourself Of the hos.
FATALITIES, Of the Aatteson House but this evening we
can neither advance nor return. Let US figure up orr
drift, the hind one partly OF the track, with supply Of
water exhausted the inow has been drifting in the
track behind us, so that backing up the train Is out Of
the question some three hundred passengers-the ac-
cumulations of all the trains since Monday.
This state Of things, as the bankers say, may be reck-
ened as our liabilities. Now for our resources:
We have the cars to sleep in, which Is kome consola.
ton. Fortunately at this station there is quite a smart
little village OF six months growth, numbering some 800
The wind is bowling and playing with the snow at a
fearful rate, which glves one q low state Of feeling about
the heart. Then our patriotism swens up, and we think
Of our vacant seat in the councils Of the State but vain
are all our repinings; stern nature in hayward mood
holds MS In bonds and We are compelled TO submit to the
tether, yet we are free TO admit with no good grace.
FRIDAY MORNING, Jan. 20.
At 2 O'Clock this morning we were aroused by the cry
of fire. Upon examination We found IL TO proceed from
the passenger house, a wooden structure, costing some
$1,000, which was consumed, driving out some Fifty in.
mates, many of whom were females who had taken
shelter for the night. The fire originated from over.
heating the pipe In the upper part Of the building.
Six Of our party chartered a wagon TO carry them into
Mendoza. Immense drifts have accumulated during the
night, making 1t entirely out Of the question to move
the train either way.
b. +. Johnson, DIR. Kennico.t, Mr.. Patton, OF the
house, Mr.. G lloway, (Engineer,) I. A. Stewart and
myself, form the party to proceed in wagon.
Our feelings were considerably excited ia regard to n
new married couple, who had been on board the cars
since Monday morning. The new husband was q little
behind last evening in procuring lodgings, and was
obliged 10 take up his quarters for the fourth night in a
car seat.
This morning we fosnd the express messenger, Mr..
StanDard, sitting on his safe, watching some imposed
or real treasure, with a serenity becoming his RESPONSE
BILE position.
FIRST Bridge Across the Mississippi River.