The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-04-02
Correspondence Of the Cato City.l

DUtfALos aiarCu ~ loous
am once more in the region of snow and
ice it comes upon one like cold chilling
frost it seems to CONCEAL the very blood in
the veins, and not only the flowing of that
vitality is impeded, but also the pen appears
TO have become numb, and even the ink to
dry up under the effects of so many pinches
yet you expect good letter, an interesting
letter, and an acceptable letter,--one that
your many intelligent readers will be pleased
with, and that will afford them an interest
ing "tit bit'' for their breakfast That can
not be had from this cold and ice bound re-
gion. The marble has enoircled US too
atmosphere. This cold, chilling, foggy and
frosty weather, freezes up half Of our exist
cnce, (Which at best needs o bright, sun to
produce shadow and we now Circulate"
in a little sphere of the nutshell order, in
comparison to summer life. Warm weather
brings the warmth of life, and with it pleas
ing ideas, that are as refreshing and cheerful
as its early spring buds and blossoms.
oA inOIuiAls tHc tlcuSt slil ~
berry, and buildings presented grand and
most magnificent sight. During the night
previous dense fog prevailed throughout
the city, which the Great AlchemiSt metamor-
phosed into the most lovely and perfect ala
bastcr, and adorned Herewith the leaaess
branches and twigs Of the trees, in a robe Of
surprising grandeur, which battles all pow
ers Of description. When the sun shone on
this seeming excresence, its sllvery flashes
dazzled like brilliant diamonds. The rich
ness Of this beautiful phenomenon was as
though the fairies were preparing for grand
jubilee and this had been chosen as fit en-
blomatio dress for their enchanted ground.
You have PROFESSIONALLY seen many pic
lures Of the "snow blockades" that have oc-
Cured during the winter. The appearance
of the snow banks even now along the line of
the Lake Shore r. R., between this place and
Dunkirk, is o marvel to all who pass through |
them. The magnitude Of the mountains that
we passed a few days since, gives us a FAINT
idea Of the almost insurmountable Difficult |
ties with which the officers and employees Of
the road have had to contend. The drifts
tower up from the track on either hand like
the walls of masonry protecting some be-
seiged fort, in many places from 10 to %
feet in height, shutting out the train and even
the top Of the ''5moke stack entirely from
view. At Eighteen Mile Greek the drift was
decidedly the heaviest we noticed on the road.
Here bridge over the track is now covered
with snow to the depth of 3 feet, and the SUI
perintendent informed me that at the time
they were excavatng through this mountain
of snow, it covered the bridge to the depth
Of feet, making it % feet by measurement,
above the track, and this high range was con-
tinuous for nearly two miles. The excaya-
ton Of these drifts was made by oii-setting
the sides, SO as to form benches or platforms
for the men to stand upon, and in MANY plac
es they were three or four tier high, throw
ing the snow up from one to another until
they were able to heave it out ut the top
Along the line there is liberal distribution
Of the wrecks Of cars that have been thrown
tof the track" by the s'solid drifts" and
rolled out Of the way of the "wagons."
The cold was intense, and the suffering and
fatigue of the men engaged in ''olearing the
track beggars description. Notwithstand
ing these almost insurmountable difficulties,
Superintendent Dennis, Napoleon-like, eyinc
cd thorough knowledge and a full compre
hension of the herculcan task before him,
and in overcoming them all gives us another
proof of his eminent ability as Superintend-
emit. K.