The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-03-13

] DURING the past winter, the most severe which
has been experienced since the completion of the
Pacific Railroad, the trains on the route, with the
passengers and mails, have been delayed in some
instances for time which had hitherto been un,
precedented in the history of the road. We have
seen a gentleman from New Zealand who some
months since passed over the route on his way to
the Eastern States and Europe. On his return,
during part of January and February, he was
no less than thirty days in making the trip from
New York to San Francisco, by the Overland
Railroad Though the passengers were not sub
jected TO extreme suffering by the protracted
blocks and stoppages" to which they were
subjected during the trip, the anxiety felt by all
for a speedy arrival at their destination made the
time drag heavily.
The following is the authentic explanation
made by the Railroad Companies of the extra
ordinary causes OF delay:
OMAHA, Feb. 1.-The followi ng statement of the
history aud condition of the Union Pacific snow
blockade is furnished by that company. The first
blockade of the Union Pacific Railroad during the
present occurred on the 18th of October
Rawlins, and since that time, with brief intervals
there has been succession of snow and wind storms
of great violence. The greatest depth of falling
snow i'm line OF the road across the mountains was
fftyfour inches but tue detention of trains has been
caused by drifting, and not by falling snow Three
winters ago blockade occurred which lasted TWEEN
ty-one days. This was before any snow licences or
snow sheds had been built. During the following
wear snow sheds and snow-fences erected at 10.
caIities where the road had been INSTRUCTED and at
other points where those persons best acquainted
with the country and its meteOrOlogy thought it de-
sirable TOR the thorough protection of the road.
c,.d dad and rip Yt1un
from one to four lines of snow-tences erected
on the northwest side of the road, from which drec
ton il was the experience of mountain men, that
snow-storms Invariably come. This protection ap-
peared 10 be ample during the two years next sue
ceeding, aud although snOw-stOrms were numerous
there was blockade and but very slight detention
of traIns After the first blockade this winter the
three succeeding snow storms came from the pre-
cisely opposite direction.
Against these storms the fences afforded no pro-
lection whatever An effort was then made TO erect
fences on tue opposite side OF the road, and every
available resourse of this company was used to pro-
materials for that purpose in the shortest pos
sible time. Large gangs of workmen were employ
ed night and day in the construction OF fences at
Omaha When made in sufficient quantities, special
trains of snow-fence were sent TO proper localities
for erection. and preference was given those and
coal trains over all other trains In November the
second serious blockade occurred, the fences having
been found insufficient to arrest the drifting snow.
An effort was then made to open the road aud keep
il open by the use of snow plows of which the COM
pauy had thirteen that bad proved efficient during
the past two winters Three heavy engines were
coupled behind each pow, and as tue result Of this
attempt twenty five locomotives were disabled with
in one week by being thrown from the track and
materially injured. The drilted proved to be
So deuce thai it impossible to force pillow into
or through il until after the cut irenched at in
tervals of eight TO ten feet down to the rails 1t then
became evident that manual labor must be provided
TO clear the track, and with all possible dispatch
seven snow-trains were fitted out with accommoda-
tions on each for sleeping and feeding seventy five
laborers aud with two weeks supply of provisions
this force was set at work In addition to the ord
nary number Of employees, it has been only BY the