St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-13
WHAT THE STORM HAS DONE.
Iowa's Blockade the Severest Ever
Known In the State.
Experiences OF Delayed Travellers
Told by n Railroad Official.
Reports OF the Continued Cold snap
Through the south.
The Storm Practically over.

CHICAGO, jan 12.-The mercury re-
manned below zero all day in this city. but
the tendency was towards warmer weather
this evening. The clouds were overcast
this afternoon, threatening snow. The
Western railway trains are beginning to ar
rive again with nearly their wOuted regu-
larity. Generally speaking the greatest
damage to r;lilrOad traffic has been done
East. All the Western roads are open, but
the main roads on the eastern side Of Chi
cago are seriously hampered by the effects Of
the weather. Assistant Superintendent
Brown of the Chicago d Northwestern
said throughout Iowa the recent storm was
the most severe that has struck that
part of the country for years past.
West of MarshalltOwn and the Missouri
river deep snow drifts formed and showed
i'm several trains. two of which arrived last
night. day and q half late. Owing to the
eXertiOns of gangs who worked night and
Gay for three days the line 5 now reported
clear. The train which left Chicago at 1890
last night is now moving through Iowa al
most on schedule time. While the main
line is clear. several of the small side tracks
are blOckaded. but in few days more the
snow plOws and gangs will have reOpened
these To traffic also. The Chicago q Rock
Island reports that every day last week
there was blockade west of Des MOineS,
and its employees had TO work i'm the teeth
of a wind that almost cut the skin of their
faces. All is now clear TO Council Bluffs.
On the Lake Shore there was serious
block four miles east OF LapOrte. but now
is reported open throughout The train
dispatcher SAYS il has been found advisable
10 run freight trains with only fifteen cars,
or half the usual number to train.
An EYEWITNESS.
AZ do not" said a Chicago Il Northwestern
Official. remember seeing Q more terrible
snow storm than the one that has been raging
in Iowa during the last few days. First we
had tho heavy snowfall, and then we had the
most intense cold that has been known In
Iowa in this generation, the mercury register
ing in many cases as low rs 30 below zero,
and the result OF the combined efforts Of cold
and snow has been TO make drifts that were
almost solid blocks, tons in weight wherever
there was Il depression ia the line. Last
night two trains that were showed i'm for
day and half at State Centre and Ames ar
rived safely in Chicago. Naturally some Of
the passengers were wild at having been so
long delayed with nothing but snow walls TO
look out upon; but the majority took the
matter cody and were thankful that they had
been able TO get through any
how alive. OF course there were
cards on board, .and during the
games at poker, seven-up and euchre were
played. One man, who was a heavy winner,
said he rather liked being snow-bound, aud
would like 10 know where he could find an
other tram that would be detained for a day
and half. There were dining cars on the
trains so that everybody had plenty 10 eat.
Those who could afford 10 pay for their meals
paid. and those who could not, and there were
a good number of these, just TO show you
how hard times are, were literally treated at
the expense of the company.
On the Wisconsin division Of the North
western no particular difficulty has been
experienced. the track being open, and the
various trains able TO work pretty well. In
the raising of the blockade it swelled ar
rivals of cattle here to Is, 600 head, con-
sidered the largest receipts at any point in
one day known to the trade. As a result
there was drop of 80 TO Coo per hundred
in prices.