Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-03-09
The Snow Blockade ON the F:a.
CiliC Railroad.

OMAHA, February 13.-The fol-
lowing statement of the Union
Pacific railroad snow blockade is fur
nished by that company: The first
blocade on the Union Pacific rail
road during the present season oc-
Cured OCTOBER, IL, hear RawIns.
Since that time, with briefintervals,
thee has been n succession of snow
and wind storms Of great violence.
The greatest depth of falling snow
on the line of the road across the
mountain is tfty-four inches, but
the detention of trains has been
caused by drifting and not by fall
ing snow. Three winters ago u
blocade occurred, which lastdd twen-
ty one days. This was before any
STOW fences or snow sheds had been
built. During tie following year
snow sheds and snow fences were
erected ut localities where the road
had been obstructed, and at other
points where those persons best ac-
quaintcd with the country and its
metcorology throught it desirable
for thorough protection of the road.
The summit cuts were shielded, and
II other places from one to four
lines of snow fences We're erected
on the northwest side of tho road,
from which direction, it was the
experience of mountain men the
snow storms most invariably camc
This protection appeared ample
during the two Winters next sue
ceeding; although show storms
were numerous, there was no block
ado, and but very slight detention
of trains. After the first blockade
this Winter, the three succeeding
snow storms came from precisely
opposite direction, and against them
these fences afforded no protection
whatever. Efforts were then made
to erect fences on the opposite side
of the road, and every available re-
source Of the Company was used to
procure materials for that purpose
in the shortest possible time. Large
gangs of men were employed night
and day, in tho construction of fen
ces at Omaha. When made in suf-
fcient quantities, special trains
loaded with new fences were sent
to proper localities for erection, and
preference was given to these and
to coal-trains over all others. In
November the second serious block
adc occurred, fences having been
found insufficient to arrest the drift
ing snow. An effort was then made
10 open the road and keep it open
by the use of snow -plows, of which
the Company had thirteen, which
proved to be efficient the past two
Winters with three beavy engines
coupled behind cnth plow; and, as
the result of this attempt, twenty
locomotives were disabled within
one week by being thrown from
the track, and materially Injured.
The drifted snow prayed so dense
that it was impossible to force the
-plow through or into it, until after
a cut was trenched at intervals offs
or 10 feet down TO Fails. 1t then
became evident that manual labor
must be provided to clear the track.
With all possible dispatch seven
stipw trains were fitted out with
accommodation oh eacl for sleep
ing and feeding seventy. five labor
ers, and with two weeks supplies
Of provisions. This f5rce was set
at work in addition to the ordinary
number Of employees. and it has
been only by aid OF these snow
trains, followed by plows, that we
have been atlc 10 send trains over
The road. .o.r.-a III
Rauehmea who have lived on the
mountains for the last S5 years Say
that noihing like the present Win
ter las eo.nrred in that time, con-
sidering either depth Of snow. dura-
tion ofintence cold or violence and
frequency OF the storms for sdEli a
Wmler our rDad r. n5t prepared.
But, after an examinatian Of the
situation it is thought thai the road
can. during next season. be prepqr-
cd 70 pass trains promptly during