Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-23
HELD In THE SNOW DRIFTS
Reports From the West Announce
Terrific Snow Storm.
Trains Showed in and Human Aid
POwerless to Assist.
The Worst Storm RailrOaderS Ex-
perienced in Years.

CHICAGO. Jan. 20.-Ihe blockade In the
West and Northwest is one of the most
complete on record. Not only has travel
become an inpossibility on the western
divisions Of the Central and Northern Pa
citc, but the telegraph companies are equal
sufferers and every through wire IS down
on both of these routes. The only means of
Geographic communication with the Pacl-
fc coast is by the indirect route of the
Southern Pacific and the amount Of busl-
ness transacted is necessarily limited.
Washington and Oregon are smut off from
communication with the entire world with
the exception of one little zig-zag wire
between San Francisco and Portland.
When this wire goes down, these two
northwestern states will be farther away
from New York than China, so far as tele-
graphic communication Is concerned.
Trains are not running and the snow
blockade renders it impossible for a tele-
graph force to reach the scene of the
break Western Union repairers are
showed up at half dozen points in the
west, and there is little prospect of re-
newed communication until the railroads
have mastered the elements. Western
Union advices are that the snow is still
falling throughout the west, so that the
prospect Is by no means encouraging.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20.-The snow
blockade on the Central Pacific in the
vicinity of Truckee and Emigrant Gap has
become very serious. Since Tuesday last
no eastern overland train has been able to
reach point further west than Colfax.
At present the east bound trains are In
Sacramento, Colfax and Shady Run. At
Truckee the depth Of snow ranges from
eight feet to drifts of twenty feet. The
railroad company has several hundred men
at work shoveling east of the town. A
plow was only able to go mile when stuck
with ten engines. ShOvelers were called
to the rescue, and after several hours work
dug them out, so they could return. On
the west road is drifts Is to 30 feet high.
A pillow with five engines was on the road
Sc hours trying to reach tunnel eight
miles from town. The whole crew re-
turned on foot, having abandoned the
train as they became ravenous with
hunger. Another pillow with twelve loco
natives started out to clear the road to
the summit, but before they had run two
miles they were securely blockaded, and
the snow falling back of them, they were
fast In both directions. The pas
sengers are quartered at hotels
by the railroad company, Yesterday
afternoon it began showing again heavily
and the reports from the blockaded trains
at Emigrant gap showed the cleared por
tons of the track were again filling fast.
The railway officials delare the present
blockade Is the heaviest and longest they
have experienced for over ten years. The
delay seriously affects the mail facilities.
No eastern mail has reached the city since
last Tuesday. The Western Union Tele-
graph company has large force of men
In the mountains clea ring the wires of
snow. The telegraph lines in some places
are entirely burie under the drifts
The passengers are suffering from cold and
a large number of cases of influenza are re-
ported. The situation is equally serious
on the California and Oregon road, in the
northern part of this state. The train
which left here ON Tuesday evening for
Portland. is still at Redding. The shovel
ers who were working south from Duns-
muir, returned after AS hours work One
engine was brought In and others are
showed In without wood or water. The
officials expect to have the reads open to-
morrow north and east.
PORTLAND, Ore, Jan. 20.-For some
days past there has been heavy snow
blockade on the Union Pacific lines be-
tween Huntington and Portland. There
have been no through trains for nearly
week past and consequently no Eastern
mails. Bitter cold weather prevailed, ac-
companied by heavy winds and binding
snow storms. Five or six trains, both
east and west bound are blockaded be-
tween Dalles and Baker City. The COM
pany has been doing every thing possible
to open the roads, and it is thought that
the first west-bound train will reach this
city tomorrow. No through trains have
arrived at Portland from San Francisco
or left here for that point for nearly
week past.