Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-02-22
WESTERN WINTER
Ths Plains Covsrss With Dsep
Snow, N
And the Streams Frozen SolS-Cattie MI
grating in Search ofPastuc.Great
Suffering and lOss-Ihe FOor'
Hungry
BRUTes KILLED ON THE RAIL ROADS.

and letters received here from over one
hundred points in the principal regions oi
the cattle trade, in regard to the effect oil
the severe storms of the last two weeks on
the immense cattle interests of the West,
give an aggregate loss of nearly S2,OOo,Ooa
The intense cold that has just passed has
not been equalled before in January Tor
many years. All through the great valley
of Salt Lake. in Utah, which has an average
elevation of 1000 feet, the mercury reached
a minimu um of % to IS below zero. In Wy.
oming, Ida and Colorado, where the eleva-
tion is greater, the cold was proportion
ately more severe. For three days along
the Oregon Short Line, which runs from
Granger on the Union Pacific northwest
into Idaho, the spirit-thermometers lndi-
Gated 46 degrees below zero. A NUMBER
of persons were frozen TO death and 3
large loss to the live stock interests re
suited. The stockmen in Nebraska and
Kansas telegraph that, while the cattle
have thus far been in fine condition, the
great depth of snowfall will cause an I'M
mense loss unless an unexpected thaw
should occur to bear the hillsides and fur
Aish both grass and water. Sheep. require
constant care and watching and unless
sheltered in corrals at night will frequent
ly perish en- masse in snow storm. Cat-
tie on the contrary are hardy and accus'
toned to rough it for themselves. Two
years ago. during month OF intense
cold, the great bulk OF cattle which saved
their lives Grifted before severe storms
from the north all the way from northern
Colorado and southwestern Nebraska TO
the region OF the Arkansas river, some go
ing as far south as the Indian Territory.
Last winter all herds remained on their
ranges, the occasional cold snaps causing
no movement among them.
A Large Stampede.
Telegrams from eastern Colorado and
western Kansas state that large stampede
occurred there among the cattle, extent un'
known. One herd, numbering thousands,
passed to the south Of Denver headed ior
the mountains. Among them were some
of the celebrated Tiff brand whose range
is one hundred miles away, which distance
they had travelled since the beginning OF
the cold snap. Ii the cold is protracted they
will proceed south to a warmer climate; II
the weather moderates and remains pleas
ant they will return to their respective
ranges The cattle in all parts OF Colorado
are fat and had an abundance OF grass up to
the present fall of snow. Several stockmen
telegraph: Cattle fat enough to stand three
weeks Of cold weather without food" Let
tiers from Teller and other points in the
north and middle parks of Colorado state
that the cattle are suffering from the lack
of water, the streams having frozen during
the cold snap, and that there is not suti-
cient snow 10 mOisten the feed.
In the Bitter Creek country the loss of
sheep is very large. Cattle sdrifted badly
during the storms and ranchmen have not
as vet ascertained the am ount OF damages
hariS Which
gregate more than expected. Advices from
the Medicine Bow region state that while
grazing spots have been left by the drifting
of the snow, the cattle have suffered from
the cold. a letter from the cattle.m2u in
Cheyenne says: In this vicinity and for
miles in every direction the outlook is the
darkest. The snow lies on Level TO the
depth Of from ten to thirty'hve inches IN
an
UnbrOken Waste.
The cattle on all this vast range cannot OBJ.
tain mOrsel Of grass and there is not any
immediate prospect of their chances being
betteTed.
From Snake Bear and White rivers, in
southern Wyoming aud northern Colorado
similar reports are received. The cold was
very great, 81 and 40 belo zero. No coaches
are running, the mails being taken in on
horseback, the snow on the divides being
as great as i've Icet IN depth. Conslderaole
loss to stock is expected
Large numbers Of cattle have been killed
along the Union Pacific, at Point of Rocks
and many other places, for which the rail.
road pays damages. The aggregate has be-
come so large that special orders have been
issued to sll trains to lose time in prefer
ence TO killing any more stock. Cattle like
To stand on the track on cold days, and
have n habit of lying down on the road bed
at night. During snow storms they take
refuge in the snow sheds, which are nu-
merOus along the Union Pacific and length
from POO to 5000 feet, wrecks frequently
resulting. ~ none of the snow sheds have
cattle guards of any kind.
Passengers who arrived from the East on
the train 10 night state that deep SHOWS
still cover the entire line OF the Union
Pacific from Omaha here, 1850 miles.
Thousands of cattle were seen standing
near the railroad, their backs bumped up
and 80 weakened by cold and hunger that
they could not get out of their tracks
Unless the weather moderates and thaw
occurs soon the loss to the cattle interests
in Colorado, Kansas. Nebraska, Wyoming
and Idaho will. within the next thirty
days, amount to several millions OF dollars,