New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-27
OVERLAND IN WINTER.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD IN A SNOW STORM.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. $3.50 many people
thought rash venture In mid winter and In tho
middle of uncommonly rough Winter at that on @
Journey the continent with my family and so
many dresry representations OF suffering by tho way
we're made, that suspect may render the public
service by relating an adventure on the road.
NO WINTER LIKE THIS FOR MANY TEARS.
Let me begin by saying that the plains and In tho
mountains this Winter has been the most severe 80 far
only since the Pacific Railroads have been opened,
but rappes and old residents say tho worst In eight or
nne years. At Denver the mercury has fallen 10 W.
below sero on the plains an uncommon quantity OF
has fallen. and to 1t seemed to have been dry
snow, easily blown about. With this were constant
fierce, driving Winds which carried snow sand. and
slka DUST in mixtures into the cuts, filling them up
with heavy and compact mass against which. In many
cases. the snowpOws were powerless, even when they
had three or powerful locomotives behind them as
an imperng force AS result there have been delays
Of trains but after diligent inquiry am satisfied that
not passenger has been killed injured nor so far as
have been able TO hear has there been any sunerng OF
serious inconvenience.
From Chicago wo Travelled by way OF Kansas City and
Denver; thence TO Cheyenne, and over the Union
Pacific and Central Pacific to this place. On the Kansas
Pacific we delayed ono night by snow which, how
ever strong OF shovelers, under the personal
command Of the superintendent Col. Fisher, cleared
away before daylight, and proceeded our way, l.
for nv part that had been stopped until
was told of 1t at breakfast On the Union Pacific we
were delayed few hours by an engine which mad run
OF the track ahead Of On the Central Pacific we ex-
perienced no delay but, being late at Ogden we were
Obliged lie day at that place, In the midst OF
severe snow-sorm which made the Salt Lake newspaper
a novel, and the inside Of room very comfortable
ARE THE CARS COMFORTABLE, AND PROVISIONS ABUs-
DASTi
Now what you would want to know, II you were going
TO California at this season, is suppose whether Tue
cars were sufficiently and comfortably warmed; whether
the passenger Is supplied with food whether the COM
panes use proper efforts to keep the roads clear and TO
expedite passenger trains and what provision Is made
for the possible accident OF being actually showed In at
some distance from an eating station and will answer
these questions First Know therefore, that the Pullman
cars on which travelled from Chicago to Ogden, are
so admirably warmed, and 90 thoroughly and easily ven
tlaied so entirely without drafts and protected against
severe weather, that were actually UNCONSCIOUS OF
tho temperature outside We carried Summer or
rather balmy Spring temperature with us all the way
and this though the mercury fell to 1852 below zero ali
night and we careerod westward through frequent sharp
gales Nor did our become stuy for 1t could be
ventilated at any moment and In fact we had, at most
times two or three ventaors in the top open so that
the air warm but pure The Pullman ana the Cen-
trail Pacific sleeping cars have all double windows
which secure you against drafts and are, In severe
weather very great comfort The ventilation in both
ia perfectly at command and II you are fond OF fresh
pure air. you need only yourself by attending to
1t yourself
MODE oP HEATING-How FOOD IS SUPPLIED.
The Pullman cars are warmed by most ingenious ana
effective contrvance-a hotwater boiler with pipes run
ming near the foet under and along the sides or
the car The boiler and stove stand at the forward emu
OF the car in O closet, and the coils of pipe difuse an
equable and agreeable warmth over the whole car.
never saw anything work perfectly than this ar
rangement, which Is. believe, the invention OF Ne"
Yorker. The Central Pacific cars, on which you make
shorter and less exposed Journey sufficiently warmed
with stoves aud these stand in yesbules out OF the
way. they very well. But fora long and cold
Journey like the plains the hot water system
of warming great and perfect security against the
most severe weather
Second AS to food, great care is TAKEN on the roads
of Chicago that trains shall not actually
and this believe has happened but once
this Winter when train delayed for nearly four
days by snOwstorm that 1t was impossible to
move ahead TO more than few feet In any
direction What happens Is that the telegraph gives
notice to your conductor at eating station, that
the road is blocked ahead and that he must stop his
OF course in that there is no Inconvenience
supplies abundant at all these stations, which are
controlled by the railroad companies.
SUPPOSE THE TRAIN is SHOWED IN.
But for the possible of sudden and severe snow
storm actually catching train distant from eating
station found, inquiry, that quantities Of canned
provisions, beef, soups, vegetables, prepared Coffee
oysters &C. carried in the baggage of every pas
senger train, sufficient to feed whole train several
days. extra supply of coal also carried along
this car enough for the whole train and gentleman
who In the train which three days snowed
In told at Chicago, that, Notwithstanding the cold
and storm, the Pullman warm dry, and snug
all the time; while for him the novelty and spice OF adj
venture had charm which mado the time pass plea
sanity; and he had complaints TO make about food
bird tn he Of he
The Central Pacific has, under the vglant and energetic
management Of It's Superintendent, MT Towne, had so
far as can hear but train delayed and that for less
than ten hours. Its trains running on time, into
Ogden, aud Westward, as far as Sacramento, where
sudden flood has for days. interrupted the road,
and sent passengers to San Francisco in the boats
On the Union and Kansas Pacific roads found the ut
most everywhere TO keep the roads clear and very
naturally for the Division supcrintendents pitted
against each other and each anxious to make the best
report headquarters The sudden and unprecedented
SHOWS have caused serious delay these roads among
the freight trains which. however, did not affect us
travellers at ALL But great and energy used to
got passenger trains through and 10 prevent injury.
The carbulder OF the Union Pacific who passed
over the line the train with us, told that so
far five locomotives OF 165 had been disabled, but
single passenger We carried on one train two
car loads OF rough shovelers at various places
along tho line men were busy building snow
fences and the Kansas Pacific. Col Fisher the West
ern Division superintendent. had been out three days
and nights with a strong force Of men fighting snow
THE TELEGRAPH IN CONSTANT
The telegraph which Is not INSTRUCTED by storms Is
an admirable help in these emergencies neat pocket
instrument enables the local superintendent, at any
point, however remote from station. to connect with
the wires and summon at once all the help he needs
from both ends OF the road. No time is lost in sending
GERS When you hear that the Union or Kansas
Pacific Road Is snowed up what has happened is this
The snow lies on the plains nowhere over five inches,
and hardly anywhere than three inches deep. On
of les deeper would only