Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-20
RAGING ELEMENTS.
SNOW FALLING AT A TERRIBLE RATE
IN THE SIERRA NEVADA.
The Railroad, However, Keeping the
Road Clear in the Teeth of
the Storm.

There is little change in the situation on
the line OF the Central Pacific through the
Sierras.
at last accounts last night the storm
was still raging, with no immediate pros
pect of abating. Snow was falling heavily,
and strong wind blew the snow about in
clouds, burying the track in many places
The railroad company, however, is keeping
the storm well in hand. and so far has sue
ceeded in keeping the road partly clear.
The moment the storm leis up, trains will
resume their trips on schedule time, as
there will be no obstacles-at least such is
the outlook at present.
The rotary pillow continued on duty at
Cascade all day yesterday and last night,
and succeeded in keeping the troublesome
cut clear. In order to do this, the pillow
had to make trip over the mile-and-a-
half stretch every two hours. The start
would be made from the west end and the
plow would proceed east until through the
cut. Then she would back down rapidly
to the starting point before the snow had
time to obstruct her path. The remainder
of the road is taken care of by the old-style
push-plows and the army of shovelers.
One of these plows, which was detailed
for duty between Alta and Emigrant
Gap, started out yesterday morning from
the former place, and got along nicely
until it reached point about mile west
of Emigrant Gap. Here a snow-bank was
encountered which had drifted in upon
the track where the snow-sheds were
broken. The pillow was buried deep in the
bank, and could only be extricated after
several hours of hard work by large force
of shovelers. By evening the plow reached
Emigrant Gap, and from that place it was
ordered further on East The plow had
only proceeded short distance when it
ran into another bank and buried again.
at last accounts last night the shoyelers
were at work digging out the pillow.
An idea of the amount of snow which
fell yesterday may be gained from the re-
port of the crew in charge of the rotary at
Cascade. They state that, though they
passed over the track every two hours, they
found twenty inches of snow on the track
each time. What the depth would have
been by this time had not the pillow
patrolled the track can only be coniectured.
The snowfall reaches from Truckee to
Auburn. The fall at the former place yes
terday was five and half feet, making the
total depth ten feet on level in that re-
gion.
More shovelers are being constantly sent
up to the front to join the already immense
army. One hundred more came up from
San Francisco last night, and were joined
by 140 new ones who were gathered in this
city. One hundred and forty of these go
direct to Towles this morning, and the re-
mainder go to Blue Canyon.
The telegrapbic wires are Frustrated at
many points along the line, and in conse-
quence news from the front is scarce.
No trains started for the East last night
or yesterday from this city. The one
which arrived from San Francisco last
night was held here, and may go out this
morning if the outlook is favorable. No
trains which are westbound have come fur
Their than Truckee.