Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-04-20
The Eastern Avalanche.

1t is difficult IN this latitude and longitude
10 correctly comprehend the extraordinary
state Of things existing the past three days In
the great cities Of the Atlantic coast People
in Chicago aud the northwest know some
thing about snow storms and have learned by
experience how to grapple with the difficulty
and promptly overcome It. With them neces.
sity has given birth TO energy and Inventive
ness, and 1t has been extremely unusual in the
worst OF winter weather to see Ordinary busi
ness and traffic hindered for more than few
hours at time IN Chicago. for instance, il
has occurred but once ia abo twenty years
that street-car transportation has been stopped
10y snow as long as twelve hou ~ consecutive
IL. Even In Dakota and Mimi eso,a, the roost
ing place OF the festive blizzard, they manage
to DO some business and maintain some sort Of
an existence with reference TO the world in
general.
But the storm results in New York, Penn
sylyanis, and New Jersey since early on last
Mouay morning have been something unprec
edentet. Not since March ISL, when in a
limited district along the line Of the northern
Pacific railroad the running OF trains was sus.
pended for about two weeks has there been
anything approaching the condition OF things
in the two great cities Of New York aud Phil
adelphia aud along the thousands OF miles OF
railroads radiatiug from those centers OF bust
ness. IL Is now nearly four DAYS since New
York ceased to hold any communication with
the rest Of the world by rail by telegraph, or
any other mode Of transmitting intelligence.
During that time the New Workers have been
as completely isolated from mankind, and, in
deed from each other, as though their big
city had been buried under An Alpine ava
lauche. People living from one to five miles
from their places OF business or employment
have had = compulsory vacation OF nearly four
DAYS. Their horse-cars ceased TO run, their
elevated roads were blocked, aud their side
walks and streets were Clogged with huge
drifts Of snow that rendered pedestrianism
aud the passage OF vehicles out OF the cues.
tion. Furersl professions were stalled. aud
the dead could not be buried. Railroad trans
portstiou into or out Of the city did not ex st,
and ie.egraplic communication was destroyed
on al sides.
A thousand cities aud towns within a DAYS
ride and containing twenty millions OF people
were as badly off AS New York. Nothing so
stupeuduous ia the way OF storm damage has
ever been known in America. Human inge-
ty and inventiveness have been powerless
IN the presence OF this wonderful demOstra-
ton OF the elements. No appliances known
In those parts have been equal 10 cleaning
the streets and railway tracks and restoring
the efficiency OF the vast system OF telegraph
wires The wires even now are so Frustrated
on the lines extending cut OF New York and
Philadelphia that only mesgre news Of the
great storm can be procured. As for the news.
papers, the fluent chaps who certify TO great
crculstions have found their occupa lions
gone There has been no such thing as news.
paper circulation. The DAMAGE 10 all drec
tiuns Is roughly estimated al twenty millions
IL Is probable that twice that sum Will not
July cover the loss, 10 all the interests that
have suffered in consequence II the big
and Wpeks II elapse hnfprs itg
yes can be wholly repaired aud its disturban-
ces wholly remoyed.-ChicdgO Times.