The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-13
A HALF BLIZZARD.
City Visited by One of the
Worst Snow Storms Since
the Famous Blizzard.
TROLLEY SYSTEM KNOCKED OUT.
Traction officials Say They We're
Caught Mapping as Excuse for
Inconvenience Caused.

Not since the famous blizzard of March,
1888, has this section of the country been
visited by such severe storm as the one
that struck town yesterday afternoon, and,
although the storm was not so severe as the
one of 1888, the snowfall was easily the
greatest of the season. 1t started in with a
light wind and moderate fall of snow in the
afternoon, but before midnight it became
cyclonic in its force.
The storm had an area at eight o'clock last
night reaching from Maine to Florida and
extending from the Atlantic coast to Iowa.
It came into being in the Pacific Ocean, and
developed continental proportions. 1t got
SO big that it broke in halves yesterday and
became two distinct storms. If it had not
smashed itself we would in all probability
have been unable to get out of doors this
morning.
that it would continue showing until noon
today, and this will be followed by a cold
wave; SO we can expect some Arctic weather
and prepare ourselves accordingly.
At midnight nearly foot of snow had
fallen, and in many places it had drifted to a
depth of two feet. 1t was fine, singing
snow, and those who were unfortunate
willing to believe that they had struck
blizzard of unusual magnitude.
TROLLEY SYSTEM WOULDN'T WORK.
Much discomfort was caused in this city
owing to the fact that the trolley system
again proved that it cannot work in storm.
and all travel was stopped. Each boat
brought hundreds of passengers from New
YORK, only to find that there were no cars
running. The cars were stalled in various
parts of the city, and only at irregular inter
walls did one reach the ferry, when regular
stampede would occur and the car be filled
to overdowing in less time than it takes to
tell it.
The rails were covered with coating of
ice and snow, which prevented the transmits
sion of the electric current and brought the
cars to standstill. Many of the would-be
passengers got tired of waiting and walked
to their homes, where they arrived in all
stages of exhaustion, resulting from their
exposure to the eleEnenJS.
The officers of the company Immediately
set men to work cleaning the tracks;
the sweepers were brought into use,
and at seven o'clock the cars began
running, although irregularly. Cars were
taken from the Montgomery street and Pa
vonia Ferry routes and pressed into service
for the carrying of passengers to Greenyille.
1t was on this line that the discomfort was
most felt. Down in Bayonne the tracks
were completely obliterated by the snow
that had drifted upon them to such a depth
that even the snow plows could not get
through 1t was ten O'clock before travel
was facilitated sufficiently to accommodate
all the people whe were waiting at the ferry.
OFFICIALS CAUGHT MAPPING.
When interviewed this morning Superin-
tendent Sayre said that they were caught
mapping They did not expect that the
storm would amount to anything and de-
layed too long before beginning the work of
keeping the tracks clear. He said that the
trouble was caused by the snow ON the
tracks shutting off the electric current taken
up by the wheels s'But," said he, there
will not be any more trouble of that kind in
the future"
'.It has happened during every storm
we've had said T. s'How are you going to
prevent it in the future~
'sWe viii be better prepared next time"
was his reply.
SIN what way?"
1'We will take care that the track are kept
clear, and will not allow them to get coated
with ice and snow. We are running cars on
all lines now except to Bayonne. We cannot
get beyond Forty-fifth street on account of
the drifts, but the roadmaster has a force of
two hundred men down there, and expects
to have the road clear by one O'clock. y
Down at the Pennsylvania depot station,
Master Keifer said that the storm had not
affected them in any way. All trains were
running regularly and on time, and no delay
or inconvenience had been experienced by
patrons of the road.