, 1885-02-11

CHICAGO, Feb. lO.-The storm which
commenced Sunday morning extends
throughout Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,
Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota and Wis
consin. In some respects it is most re-
markable. The thermometer is below zero
in certain points in this state, while at the
same time a hundred miles distant, it is
raining. with severe thunder storms. The
fall Of snow varies from fourteen inches
to three feet on the level. All railroads
are more or less blockaded, and in many
sections all freight and passenger trains
have been abandoned. Tonight the fall
Of snow has discontinued and the Their
mometer marks from zero to thirteen be-
low.
Chicago seems to have been the center
of the snow area, and for a distance of
about sixty miles in every direction it has
fallen to great depth and is drifting badly.
Most of it was very moist when it fell.
which makes it very heavy and as hard to
handle, almost as ice. and having since
been frozen hard and ground almost to
powder by drifting. The level character
of the country in every direction, and its
freedom from forests, facilitate its car
riage by wind and Judgment whenever a
railroad cut furnishes a place for it to
drop into. In consequence Of this, and Of
the extremely low temperature which has
prevailed all day it has put most Of the
railroads in worse condition, If that were
possible, than they were yesterday.
It is next to impossible for men TO work,
and about as difficult to keep steam up in
engines. From every direction reports
come Of engines dead and side tracked.
Suburban trains in every direction are
moving slowly, but many persons fear to
risk a night in the cars and remain in
the city. The cattle at the stock yards
are suffering intensely from cold; the
sheds being unprotected by roofs. Many
stock trains are showed in on the various
roads, and as the mercury goes down the
hopes Of the shippers and consignees go
down accordingly. Dealers assert that
unless speedily released most Of the coop
ed up stock will perish, causing a loss
which cannot now be estimated. Twelve
cars of cattle were brought to the yards to-
day by eight locomotives. Double
header were started out with all trains
of cattle for the London and Liverpool
markets, but after going a short distance
it was found impossible to make any
Roadway and they returned to the yards.
Railroad men report snow banks fifteen
to eighteen feet in height along the south-
western roads. Thirty-four cars of stock
on the Milwaukee & st. Paul came in with
t~wenty-one engines. Thirteen cars of
| sheep a few miles out on the Chicago.
Burlington & Quincy, were found frozen
to death. At Hfy-ninth street this
afternoon a Fort Wayne express was run
into head and head by a switch engine
going to the relief ola suburban train,
the trainmen saved themselves by Jump
ing. The passengers were badly shaken
up and both engines were wrecked. On
the Grand Trunk four engines spent four
hours in clearing two miles of track, and
two of them were ditched. The weather
has been very cold all day. At s O'Clock
this morning the standard thermometer
marked l6' below and it remained un-
changed till noon. At 3 p IN. twas l4'
below, highest point of the day at
6 p. m. it marked l5' below; at 8 p m.
20o below and at 1920 p. m. 90 below.