The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-02-03

engines 10 maui lHCHl. ne StOrm has
ceased and the condition of affairs is slowly
improving.
DAMAGES TO TELEGRAPH WIRES.
Inquiry at the Western Union Tele-
graph Office at / O'Clock this afternoon.
shows that all communication east and
south are cut off. About midnight last
night, n freezing sleet storm set in, ex-
tending southwark to an unknown distance
and eastward to Buffalo. The wire be-
became encrusted ahd weighted with ice
and began going down, one by one till at
>.ayhght the city was practically cut off on
an arc beginning at ST. Louis in the south
west and sweeping eastward, including all
the country east of the Mississippi river
and south of the chain of great lakes. At
this hour only one wire is working be-
tween Chicago and New York, even that
is under frequent interruption. Broken
wires have fallen across those not broken.
causing confusion To add to the diff
culties of the situation, the trains east are
blocaded. The snow is not very deep, but
it is composed of little round particles of
sleet, through which wheeling, is like wheel
ing through sand, so that the engines with
men to repair the broken lines cannot be
sent out.
All messages are received subject to
delay. Dispatches to the associated press
from Washington, New York, Cincinnati,
St Louis, and all tributary points, are
entirely cut off The grain market of
Toledo, was the only message through to
this hour The telegraph company furn-
ishes no encouragement for materially i'm
proved service bef ire tomorrow toward
the east and north. The western telegraph
lines are in better condition. The follow
ing official statement by the Northwestern
road is fairly indicative of the general
situation in the northwest. Owing to the
great depth of the snow and its dry gram
lar character, railroads running east and
west through Minnesota have been obliged
to morally abandon efforts looking to-
wards opening west of the Mississippi
The Northwestern will keep it's Wlnonax
and ST. Peter line open to
st. Peter, Mimi, but for the present
will not attempt to run its Central Min
nesota and Central Dakota trains west of
that point, Prospective settlers destined
for points in Central Minnesota and Cen
tral Dakota should defer leaving their
homes till IT is positively known that the
roads to these points are open. The snow
em Jargo does not effect the Chicago and
ST. Paul trains of the Chicago and North
western and Chicago, Milwaukee and ST
Paul companies, nor does in affect any of
their lines in Illinois, Iowa, or Wisconsin
MILES CITY, Men, Feb. 3.-No danger
to livestock is apprehended. From the
Tongue river ranges the report is six
inches of snow, but no crust and the cat
tie are not suffering Trains arrived to
day three days out, being delayed by heavy
shows in Dakota and Minnesota There
is but six inches of snow on the level in
the Yellowstone valley. The mean tenn
perature through the Yellowstone valley
for the past three days was about twelve
degrees below zero. The weather is now
moderate.
SALT LAKE, Feb. 3.-Heavy snow and
extreme cold with wind, have laid up the
Union Pacific and Utah northern trains.
The Utah Central is running as usual.
RAwLENs, Wy, Feb Sit began snow
ing Monday afternoon at o'clock and
showed necessarily till late last night, ac
companied by high winds. Railroad
traffic is at standstill, and all the trains
on the Laramie division of the Union
Pacific were abandoned to-day.
The railroad company is sending out snow
plows and large force of men to open
the road The read will be cleared to-