The Indianapolis journal., 1890-01-29
DEEP SNOW In THE SIERRAS
The Heaviest Falli the Mountains Since
the Pacific Railways We're Built.
Mr.. Crockers Account of the Blockade and the
Dificultyin Opening the Lines-San Fran
cisco Thirteen Days Without Mail.

WASHINGTON. Jan. Ex-senator Stanford
this morning received long dispatch from
the general superintendent of the Central
Pacific railroad at San Francisco. giving an
account of the snow blockade in the Sierra
Nevada mountains. The dispatch says that
the situation has not materially changed
for the better, and that it is impossible to
start any of the delayed west-bound trains.
On both sides of the mountain the snow is
piled up until it is from three to four feet
higher than the cabs of the locomotives on
each side of the track. and push plows and
plungers are Of no service whatever. ae they
cannot throw the snow out of the channel
The steps have had to be taken off the cars
TO prevent them from dragging In the ice.
and the snow is so deep that the sides of
the cars are pushing against the high
banks The dispatch states that very
heavy snow and wind-storm has pre-
vailed in eastern Nevada and Utah,
and that two engineers and three
firemen were killed by engines becoming
derailed by the wind. Several trains have
left Ogden for the East, but all have been
derailed after going short distance by the
ice on the tracks. West of Summit the
snowis piled up on the sheds from fifteen
TO twenty feet, and great danger is appre-
hended that the immense weight will crush
them IN. East of Summit the snow
on the sheds is even greater, and the
telegraph wires at Cascade are buried from
ten to twelve feet, although the tops of
poles stand twenty-five feet above the
ground. Heavy land and snow slides have
occurred at Delta and north of Dunsmire
10 illustrate the nature Of the storm, the
dispatch says that at point about q mile
north of Upper Soda Springs a snow-slide
came down the mountain and damned upthe
river so that its bed was dry below
of the slide crossed the river, breaking off
trees at the stump. two and three feet in di-
ameter.. like pipe-stems. The dispatch
In conclusion says that several hundred
inen are digging among the snow and roch-
slides south of Dunsmire, and that it will
take them some days to complete the task.
The line north of Ashland has been block
AIDED four days, and all passengers have
been sent back to Portland. A severe
storm set in again yesterday, and the super
worst is yet to come.
Another dispatch from Vice-president
Crocker. of the Central Pacific. says that he
has been blockaded in the snow ten days.
and has just reached San Francisco. The
storm, he says. has been the severest since
the road was constructed, and never before
have trains been detained for more than
twenty-four hours by falling snow. Twen-
ployed to combat with the elements. and
great difficulty IS experienced in provision
ing them, as all supplies have to
be carried by means of a snow
shoe service, and at an enormous
expense. In places on the line of the
Central Pacific. the snow yesterday was
from fifteen to twenty feet deepen the tops
of the snow-sheds, and it Is feared they will
not Withstand the strain. The snow has
been falling from Ogdon to Cotton since
m haG hao
than ever known before. In many of the
cuts and narrow ravines the snow reaches
depth of from forth TO fifty feet, and snow
plows are wholly unavailable. In many
and no communication can be had except
on now-shoes.
The track is now clear from San Fran
cisco to Reno. New. with the exception of
where the snow is drifted to depth of
thirty to fifty feet. The rotary snow-plow
plunged into q drift and was completely
lost in the snow. In addition to
she railway saaTa%sn,n operatives saH there Were
newspaper men on the huge machine
and 1T required two hundred shovelers two
hours to rescue them. The rotary plow
was released, and is again at work, but
making slow headway. Between Truckee
and Summit there Is a stretch of road
covered with ice which has to be cleared
ont with pick and shovel. but the company
expects TO nnlsh this work by tonight or
tomorrow. and enable the overland trains
at Reno and Truckee to come through.
The Santa Fe road is the only line oper-
ating to the East, and is running trains On
time. Thirteen days Eastern mail is in the
mountains OF at Reno. causing great incOn-
yenience and loss to business men. On the
Oregon division. Superintendent Pratt,
with 800 men. Is still fighting snow. 1t
will take three or four days to open the
track with the most favorable circum-
stances. 1t showed last night, and the
condition of weather is favorable to more
snow. The high water in the northern
part of the State Is fast subsiding.
The Central Pacific About Open.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. s-Superintendent
Fillmore. of the Southern Pacific, says the
blockade in the Sierras is practically
raised. and that all west-bound trains at
Truckee, Wadsworth and Reno will move
tonight.
Refused to Garry the Mails.