Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-04

quarters Al Clty folnt; never sent messages to
him; never had either business or social trans
actions with Lindsey. He was regarded at the
White House as the secretary to Mr.. Grinnell.
The examination OF General Porter was still
in progress when our report closed.
me Northern PactRc 1otlroad and
Mr.. W. Milnor Roberts, the distinguished
Chief Engineer Of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, has made . statement regarding the snow
spScisi interest inst now Mt RoScrts snan, 1ss
winter Of 1901 along the western section OF
the Northern Pacific line in Oregon and Wash
iDgton Territory, the early part Of the present
winter in western Montana, near the highe.s.
elevation OF the route, and has since been on the
east fern portion Of the road, through Minnesota
Besides this personal inspection he has been in
construction parties, and with government
onhcials On the various parts of the line. His
statement, which was made in answer to certain
definite questions, is Is follows:
100 BROADWAY, New YORK, March 2, 1872.
The ordinary points on the Northern Pacific
route where in the absence of ordinary pre-
cautions there would be reason to anticipate
occasional difficulty from snow, are at and near
the Bozeman Pass, in Montana, and towards
sity for unusual precautions against snow, it the
route via the Yellowstone Valley, Deer Lodge
Pass, Clark's Fork and Columbia river, be
needed.
The present winter is remarkable one almost
everywhere, but it is my opinion that with well
constructed fences at the most exposed points
the Northern Pacific Railroad can unquestiOaabfy
be kept open for regular traffic its entire length
across the centsnent through similar sotnters here
to Oak Lake labeut 200 miles,, has been free
most Of the way this winter WITHOUT snow fences,
and the Lake Superior and Mississippi and the
st. Paul and Pacific Roads, in Minnesota, have
had comparatively little trouble from snow
this winter. A few miles of snow fences
will render our line from Lake Superior to the
sSca -,
tons as the line from Chicago to Omaha.
Even in the Rocky Mountains, in Montana the
thermometer from January Sth to the I4th in
the middle OF the day, ranged from 80 above
800 above. From January 18th to the 2lst the
range was from 150 to 81 above; from JANUARY
to 40 above-average, 26s above; February 18th
to 18th, from De above to 45s abOve-averape
42.5s. The first snow storms of the present winter
came in the Rocky Mountain region of Montana
unusually early, Gn November and December
were accompanied by unusually cold weather
and were regarded by the Oldest settlers as verv
renarkable. Most winters cattle range through
the valleys OF this region without difficulty, and
are usually latter IN spring than when turned
ont on the approach of winter-feeeing on the
nutritious bunch grass. At Helena, in the
to, the lowest Thermometer was about se0 below
zero, and from 30 to SOC below in the vicinity OF
the Bozeman summit. But such low tenpera-
ture only occurred for few days, as witness
the high range of the thermometer from Janu-
airy st6 to February 18th. My latest informa-
ton from the mountain sections of our line is
ken, dated at Helena, February Il, and fully
corroborated by letters from residents of other
portions of Montana, dated the 18Th. From the
former make the following extract:
81 have not heard ofany very serious SHOWS on
any Of our lines The Jefferson has but very
little oni Major Pease, who just arrived here
He and he Ys that sut the
Between Forts Shaw and Benton ii has disap-
peared altogether. In the Bitterro ,t and Mis-
soula valleys, there has been none OF any &C
count. So far as / can learn, the snow would
not have delayed trains more than one day had
they been running. My opinion OF the danger
Of deep SHOWS and frequent drifts is, that Ct no
encounter anything resembling the trouble and
vexati0n that the Union Pacific is suffering.
The wagon road between here and Deer Lodge
the highest elevation on our line, has been open
and In good condition ever since il was first
broken. y Mr.. Sparks, just returned
from the Muscle Shell Valley, where his stock
has been during the winter, says the snow has |
Guilty IN getting plenty Of grass the entire time"
These very favorable reports, during winter
Of unprecedented severity, cover the most ele |
oS Of our linz
anywhere on the route; and when it is remem-
beIed that the distractions on the Union Pacific
haze haze; been virtually confined to section Of IS,
higher than the highest summit on the Northern
route, and most Of which IL $500 to 5000 feet
higher than the mountain section of equal length
ON the Northern Pacific line, it becomes per
fecfiy safe TO predict for the latter as complete
exemption nom winter blockade Is II enieyed
By railreads In New York and New England.
The valley route and sheltered position OF the
Nofthen Pacific Road through Montana pre-
veDts, to great extent. that constant drifting of
what fnoW there IL, which characterizes more
eleyated routes, and which has been the chief
source Of difficulty On the Union Pacific.
W. MILNoR ROBKRrs,
Chief Engineer Northern Pacific Railroad.
10Latest contribution 70 the Complete
Filial Aelodist"-" Yank this splinter, motaer
DEAR"
~Ex-Alasrman walsh, Of Chicago, has been
fined SloO and sentenced to six months imprison-
ment for receiving brides.
~Grcen Smith, colered barber Of Neosho,
Mrs, went into the house Of Mrs.. Jennings in
st. Louis, No., and insulted her, whereupon
her brother stabbed and killed him. No arrests.
~H ID reported that the negotiations in l
regard to Q commercial treaty between France
and Italy have been interrupted through Prus 4
sian Interference.
~The last act Of n. Cont, the late private
secretary of Napoleon ILL.,, was to send a tele-
gram to his old master at Chiselhurst, saying