The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-03-10
THE STORM.

north for which this winter is famous put
in an appearance. 1t showed for about
sixty hours continuously the wind blow.
ing stiff breeze the while from the north.
The temperature was not low SO that the
snow was heavy which gives the immense
drifts solidity unusual to such piles.
Not only was communication with the
surrounding country entirely suspended,
but travel on the principal streets was
attended with such difficulties, that very
few attempted to stir outside. The or
binary snow fall where undisturbed by
the winds was of sufficient depth to prac-
tically form a blockade. In localities
favorable for the accumulation of snow
there are breastworks as high as the sec
ond stories of buildings. On either side
of the streets running east and west are
regular mountain systems which will be
fruitful of trouble when the warm sun
causes them to dissolve. When the
storm subsidized on Saturday, the city pre-
sented strange aspect. There was an
appearance of desertion and desolation
about the place as if it were stricken by a
plague. Side walks were walled in and
the streets had an elevation which made
them unfamiliar in double sense. The
ragged appearance OF the snow mountains,
and it is NC exaggeration to so denomi-
uate them, suggested the idea of some
great natural upheaval. Shed roofs
strained and cracked and in many instan-
ces collapsed under the great weight su-
perimsosed upon them. There was q
general feeling of isolation which was
depressing and oppressive. Had fire
broken out it would have swept the city
as the streets were impossible and the
fire engines could not be brought out.
Wood ran up as high as s. a cord, be-
cause of the difficulty of delivering it.
No mail was received from Saturday,
Feb. 25th up to Wednesday March 9th.
The work done on the roads Tuesday and
Wednesday intervening between the two
storms, was all for nothing. On Satur-
day afternoon the rail road company be-
gan the work of clearing the track, but
the work was necessarily slow and very
laborious. The rain of February Goth
added to the difficulty as it flooded por-
tons of the track and froze over, making
work with the pick and axe necessary.
Work was prosecuted day and night and
Sunday. 1t created quite demand for
labor and able bodied men found it easy
to secure employment at good wages.
Now the question that stares the people
in the face is, what shall be done with
the snow? A rain storm will food the
city. When the final break up comes
the streets will be absolutely impossible.
No matter how gradually the snow will
go off, cellars and the lower floors of
buildings will be flooded. The fact that
water will seek the lowest possible level
makes this unavoidable. The streets
with their present accumulation of snow
are fully three feet above the sidewalks,
and the rains we have had, have saturat-
ed the lower strata of snow. 1t is esti-
mated that the snow now on the ground
when converted into water will be equi-
valent to II inches of rain fall. Can this
immense amount of water be carried of
without doing damage? Every creek
will be q torrent and bridges will be
swept away. Dams will be unable to
"stand the pressure. The snow storm
was an atfiiction but the threatened de-
luge which it has stored up may vi = rea-
son cause serious apprehension.
The ship yards at this place are SO sit
uated as to suffer to the fullest extent in
the event of a food. They are on low
land and rise in the river will food
them. There is an immense amount OF
ship timber on hand. Rand & Berger
alone have fully $4,000 worth piled uI
in their yard. Should the river rise as
high as present appearances indicate
great loss in the ship yards is inevitable
Besides the ship timber on hand, the fol.
lowing vessels are in process of construc.
ton or undergoing repairs: At the ship
pard of Rand & Berger: A barge for the
Menominee Line, a schooner for Ole
Johnson, of Chicago, rebuilding the
schooner Kate Lyons; Richards is build
ing steam barge; Butler has small
schooner on the stocks; Hanson & Scove
are at work on q schooner for Paul Mel
son; Larsen is building scow for Pank
ratz & Co., and Charles Book is building
a schooner. All this property is threat
ened. There are besides a number Of
vessels lying near the dry dock awaiting
repairs.
Lying above Main street bridge are
the following vessels and steamers: Scows
Success, Felicitous, Nellie and Annie
steamers, Corona, Sheboygan and And,
/ SSuoOIClS, SudTiGS Lul1DG
Pfster, Tempest, E. NJ. Portch, City O
Woodstock, Ellen Stephenson and othe
smaller ones. Danger is apprehended tx
the bridges from the drifting of these yes
sells. The ice is still solid and of unus
ual thickness. 1t will remain so for som,
time as the snow protects it from the SUI
and warm winds. If the rush of waite
comes, which now seems inevitable, thos,
blocks of ice will have great capacity TO
mischief. But the bridges stand in great
er danger from the vessels which lii
above. 1t would be the part of wisdom
to cut q channel up the river so that tn
vessels may be brought down before th
deluge comes. 1t may prove unneees
sary but in times of peace we should pre-
pare for war.
The resignation of Supt. Viebahn Wi
oauSa n vanoDov in tho ,rino;paIoh;,, =,