New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-03-16
Tracy Correspondence.
No Fuel and NO Light.
$50 Paid for One aud q Halt Tons
OfCOal.

Inquiries are made by outside par.
ties of the situation here at the pres.
emit time; and no doubt it is thought
by many that there is much distress
hereabouts. It is we'll known, of
course, that we have shared equally
with others in the many storms that
have visited this country the past
winter. Last month was month of
snow and wind, although the tempera-
ture. on the whole, was not so low as
in the forepart of the season. The
body of snow is heavy, and it is diff.
cult to get about in it.
We have been blockaded since JAN
uary the 10th. Since then no trains
from the east have come in. Our PEG.
pie turned out on several occasions. in
force, and helped open the drifts be-
tween here and Lamberton. But no
good came of it.
AS tar back as in January we were
short of fuel. There was no wood to
be had. Our merchants were looking
for it on every freight that came in.
There were quite number of such
trains in about the 18th of January;
but Tracy was overlooked, and receiv-
ed nothing OF which to speak in the
freight or express line. Towns west
OF us were the fortunate ones. The
present blockade set in and our hopes
OF receiving fuel were dashed. Those
who thought they had sufficient sup
ply found themselves getting short.
There was coal here in cars and it was
quickly disposed of. The railroad
company began to sell from their coal
house; but stopped some time ago as
they were getting short for their own
use. Wood was heard of at Sheteck,
andafter several days effort a road was
opened and it was brought in, costing
about ten dollars cord. ia few weeks
ago road was opened to Sleepy Eye.
We heard that there was coal at Burns;
and at this present time coal is being
hauled from there. Soft coal cost six
teen and seventeen dollars ton. Mr..
Goodnow paid 1ftv-two dollars, day be-
fore Yesterday, for one and a half tons.
This is simply outrageous. I know
nothing about this but the bare fact,
but it is exorbitant.
For a time the merchants were out
OF all necessary articles. We could not
get groceries,. Our lamps went out b.
cause there was no oil, Stores and Of
fees have been closed because there
was no fuel or lights. There have
been no church services for the same
reason. We can get groceries now and
Kerosene; for goods have been brought
in from Sleepy Eye. But fuel is still
desideratlm. No family is able to have
more than one fire and that is kept
with moderation. We feel that our
worst time for fuel is yet to come
when the season breaks up and an en-
barge is put upon all teaming. We
hope the blockade will be lift
ed soon. though we do not expect it
for a month yet.
Under the circumstances the season
has been dull one. For two months
there has been no trade here to men,
ton. Social life has been of the dull
lest character. Fortunately there has
been but little sickness, and nothing
Cases of diphtheria and
scarlet fever have been reported; but
they were a mild type of those diseases
IND recovery was soon and rapid. ::.ss
Doubtless there has been suffering
both here and in the country; but we
have not known much of it. It will be
strange, however, if we do not hear
when spring comes, of considerable |
suffering.
If we could get a supply of fuel we
would consider ourselves fortunate.
More or less blame has been charged
to the railroad as is usual in such CIR.
;umstances. Doubtless there were
times when the. company could have
lone more than it did for us; and DOS.
'ibly we might have done more for our
selves. We all have failed in our cal. |
;ulations of the weather, have not |
Known what was to be on the morrow;
Ind therefore, have failed in our calcu-
ations. It is an easy, natural thing to |
e,others for our misfortunes. The |
railroad company should furnish bet
;errolling stock foI this western region.
The engines have not been tit to cope
with such winter, There have not
oeen snow ploughs enough to work ef-
iciently the blockaded lines. I
0. P. CHAMPL1N.