The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-02-10
TIE STORM KING.
.xoSARCH OF ALI HE SURVEYS. y

"XONARCH OF ALI HE SURVEYS"
The Biggest Thing Out - Old Bereas
and The .t Beautiful " sn Bender
Calnlnatisn of . Two Weeks Snow
Blockade The Last and Worst.
The weather is usually considered .
rather commonplace theme - but there is
weather and weather. When q whole
lays itself out to think aud
talk of nothing else; when men who are
unaccustcmed to idling quit work and
gather in groups about the stoves in our
stores. speculating rs to what the next
turn of this much-vexed planet viii de-
velop In the way of variety. and challeng-
ing one another to instance winter Of
the past with which to compare the pres
ent one; when, in short. the whole duty
Of man resolves itself into repairing the
damages of billiards past and preparing
for billiards yet to come. it may be said
that discussion of the weather is in order.
Indeed there is nothing commonplace or
tame about this season. From the open
ing chorus in October to the grand cres-
cendo of last week. the performance has
been full of surprises.
Thursday. the day of our last publica-
tion. rounded of rather pleasantly, and
left people generally unprepared for the
morning which succeeded it. A furious
wind was blowing the snow about next
morning. and so mingling falling flakes of
new snow with that which was torn from
the ground that earth and sky seemed
almost one element. Not single team
was to be seen on the streets during this
and the two succeeding days. Great
drifts were piled up by Saturday morning,
reaching almost to the tops of some of
the low buildings along Second street.
OF course very little business was to be
thought of until the storm should abate
and the streets be made passable. The
storm came from the southeast, and the
temperature was fortunately rather mild.
The disposition of almost every one was
to accept the situation in good humored
way, as a sort of practical joke. We
hear of no cases of distress in this vicin-
ity. but that there must have been some
hardship in the surrounding country is
the conclusion of those who are best in
formed.
Sunday morning the wind had quieted
down, and the hope was general that we
had seen the last of that particular storm.
We sunk shaft in monster snow drift
in our back yard. and found wood pile
few feet from the surface. which assured
us of fuel for few days at least. In the
evening there was the usual snow storm.
Monday morning was so far pleasant
that the work of digging out store fronts
and sidewalks was vigorously begun all
along the line. The worst drifts on Sec
ond street were in front of Philbrick &
Francois store and piled up to the top of
the lamp post at ]. d. Bunce's restaurant.
Colossal drifts, but little smaller than
these. were heaped up along the south side
of the street for its entire length. BY
noon, however. the valiant shovel brig
ade. composed of the business men in
that locality, had cleared the sidewalks
for the most part between Mill street and
Bells furniture store. With the assist
ance of MIR. Pesbody's team the street
was also made passsble for vehicles early
in the day. Mill street was opened with
q snow plow and teams from the railroad
to Third street. beyond which the shovel
had to be used in order to get through
several big drifts.
No considerable attempt was made to
open up roads leading into the country
until Tuesday. On that'daY the roads
received some attention. and work on
the village streets was so well prosecuted
that most of the houses in town were
accessible for teams.
Road work has been pushed forward
the past few days by the township super
visors and by volunteers from the village
under the leadership of Messrs. Peabody.
Bigham and others, so that the main
roads running in various directions from
town are opened for several miles into
the country. Itwas impossible for teams
to get into town without this assistance.
Mr.. W. E. Baker sent man and team to
his farm just before the storm. and on
Sunday the man attempted to drive back
without . load. The horses fioundered
through the snow as far as Mr.. Harvey
Warmers, distance of three miles or so.
where they were put into the stable COM
pletely tagged out The driver walked
into town.
The total depth of snow now on the
ground is estimated to be nearly three
feet on level. We heard one old resi-
dent express the opinion that more snow
had fallen this winter than during the
five years preceding, which is fair indi-
cation of the unusual character of the
season.
The much-vexed question of the fuel
supply still worries those who are prone
to look ahead gloomily, but we think it
probable that the railroad will see to our
necessities before the home supply is
exhausted. Bishop Gordon had q lot Of
wood corded about his place, which has
been peddled out pretty fast since the
storm. There are y few other piles Of
green wood in the village which ought to
supply our needs for & few weeks longer.
There is also little coal in the market
still.
The railroad train which was showed
up here two weeks ago still remains.
Orders were received at this station to
start up the engine and proceed with .
force Of men to open up the road toward
Sleepy Eye this morning. The main line
= said 70 be cleared nearly . far west -
Sleepy Eye. and the sxow plow from the
East is expected there to-day. We hope
Tor train BY tomorrow.