The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-15
THE WESTERN BLOCKADE.
A Report from the Union Pacific
Railroad Company.
History Of the Snow Storms Affecting the Road
Attempts to 0bviate the Dificulty-Great
Trouble as to Labor-False and
Exaggerated Reports-What.
They Are Doing About It.

OMAHA, Neb. Feb. IA, 1872.
The following statement OF the history and condi-
ton OF the Union Pacific snow blockade furnished
by tnat company first blockade on the Union
Pacific Railroad during the present season occurred
October IL near Rawhns. Since that time, with
brief intervals, there has been succession OF snow
and wind storms OF great violence. The
greatest depth Of falling snow on the line Of
the road across the mountains Is ffty.Iour inches.
But the detention OF trains mas been caused by
drifting, and not by falling snow. Three winters
ago blockade occurred which lasted twenty-One
days. This was before any snow fences or snow
sheds had been built. During the following year
snow sheds and snow fences were erected at To-
calities where the road had been INSTRUCTED ana
ut other points where those persons best acquainted
with the country and It's meteorology thought
1t desirable for the thor ough protection of the road
The summit cuts were shielded, and at various
places from one to four lines OF snow fences were
erected on the northwest side OF the road, from
which direction, 1t was the experience OF mountain
men that snow storms invariably come. This pro-
lection appeared ample during the two winters
next succeeding. Although snow storms were
numerous. there was no blockade ana but very
slight detention OF trains.
AFTER TIE FIRST BLOCKADE THIS WINTER
the three succeeding snow storms came from pre-
cisely the opposite direction, and against those
snow storms these fences afforded no protection
whatever. An effort was then made to erect fences
on the opposite side OF the road ana every avalla
bic resource Of the company was used to procure
materials for that purpose IN the shortest possible
time. Large gangs OF wOrkmen were employed
night and day in the construction OF fences at
Omaha. When made in sufficient quantities special
trains loaded with new fence were sent to the pro.
per localities for erection. and preference was
given to these and to the coal trains over
nj IN hn
blockade occurred, the fences having been
found insufficient TO arrest the drifting
snow. An effort then made to open
| the road and keep 1t open by the use Of snow
| ploughs, of which the company had thirteen that
| mad proved TO De efficient during the past two
| winters, with three heavy wagons coupled Uehind
each plough, and as the result OF this attempt twenty
| locomotives were disabled within one week by
The drlfed snow proved to be so dense that 1t was
Impossible TO force plough through 1t until after
the cut was trenched a. intervals or eight or ten
feet down to the rails 1t then became evident that
manual labor must be provided TO clear tie track
with all possible despatch
SEVEN SNOW TRAINS WERE FITTED OUT
With accommodations on each for sleeping and
a. work ii addition to the ordinary
ty the aid OF these snow trains followed by pougns
that we have been able to send the road.
Ranchmen, who have lived Oh the mountains Tor
the last twenty five years, say that nothing ike the
present winter has occurred IN that time. consider
ing eltner the ueptn OF SNOW, the duration or the
intense cold or the violence and frequency OF the
storms. For such winter our road Is not pre-
pared: but after an examination OF the situation 1t
Is thought that the road during the next
season 0e prepared TO pass trains promptly
during any future winter OF even greater severity
than the present. at an expense considerably less
than the amount the company has lost during the
last three months rom interruption OF travel and
incurred expenditures. one difficulty has been
that the road passes through region destitute OF
supplies and labor. When obstrucuons oc-
Cured BON these were required to be
| transported long distances and by long
continued working, extra hours and during intense
cold. The men, In some cases. became dlsheart-
| ened anu refused TO WORK, and In numerous cases
they nad frozen limbs and were disabled. Until
is our expectation to run trains over the road by
preceding them Dy a snow train ana also with q
tram Of provisions and coal sufficient for thirty
days supply. BY this means we expect to get
trains through IN fourteen to fifteen days, depend
| iLg OF course, on the
| FREQUENCY AND VIOLENCE OF THE STORMS.
No trains will be sent out without this supply.
| and, although passengers VIII necessarily expert
ence The annoyance OF detention 1t Is intended that
these supplies oil fuel and provisions shall be ample
want OF provisions, Will there any by pas
sengers on this road. The road Is now open
from Omaha TO Laramie distance, 572 miles
and from Washaki to Ogden-distance, 22S miles.
The distractions are between Laramie and Washaki,
embracing the divide Of the Continent, being only
senger trains detained near Separation, which Is
Twenty-Five miles distant IRON the western bound
airy OF the boCkade; and there two East bound
passenger trains at Green RIVER waiting until the
West bound trains snail pass the blockade. At
various points along the road there are about eight
hundred est bound cars Of freight and about Two
hundred cars OF freight East bound.