The record-union., 1894-02-22
OVERLAND TRAFFIC RESUMED.
The Blockade on the Central Pacific
Was Broken Last Night,
DELAYED Trains Expected Here This
AIorning-Belief That SnowshedS
Must be Abandoned.

By inquiry at the railroad Office yester-
day ii was learned that trains would at last
get over the mountains during the night
after one Of those severe storms which
are occasionally encountered in the Sierra
Nevada.
Two miles of railroad snowsheds and
galleries were crushed in by the immense
weight of snow which came down upon
them. These galleries, which are built at
great expense, are of enormous strength,
and constructed in such way as to carry
snow over the road and down mountain
sides. They have generally been suf-
fcient for this purpose, but in the late
storm resistless avalanches crushed them
like eggshells, causing complete
blockade OF the line.
The work of clearing away the broken
down snowsheds and removing from the
deep cuts the snow'that had dritted into
them was a stupendous Job, but with
characteristic energy superintendent
Wright kept his forces at it so steadily
that the blockade was broken early on
yesterday.
About midnight last night the west
bound overland trains that had been de-
tanned at Truckee and Reno were started,
and they will come through this morn
ing about O'Clock. Some Of them have
been detained upward of two days.
The road was ali clear last night except
for a few yards at Coldstream, where the
seven locomotives and snOWpl0W were
derailed. Some of the locomotives went
ever on their sides, and the work of get
ting them out of the way is rendered
difficult because of the immense banks Of
SHOW on oil sides. superintendent " right
has been there personally directing the
work, and it was expected the big en-
gines would be out Of the way before
midnight last night,
The snOwplow that caused all the trou-
bic is badly broken up, and will probably
be dismantled where it lies and the re-
mainder of it burned.
one Eastbound overland train left here
yesterday at noon. and that OF last night
left on regular time also.
Assistant superintendent Jones thinks
the trouble is now over, and that it will
be pOssi bic to keep all trains moving reg
ularly from this time on.
superintendent Wright will probably
return to-day from the mountains, but
there will be work enough there for some
days for several hundred men in remov-
ing troublesome snowbanks.
TUNNEL THE MOUNTAIN.
1t is reported that the people of Nevada
are again raising the question of petition
ing the Government to construct tunnel
about six miles long through that portion
of the mountain where the seyerest
trouble from snow has been encountered.
They say that in that way only can the
line be kept open at all times.
a tunnel of this kind would reduce the
altitude of the line 200 feet, beside
changing it to a southern exposure, in
stead OF northern, as at present, thus
avoiding the necessity OF having snow
sheds at all
These terrible storms always bring
prosperity to California, however great
discomfort they may cause to those who
have to travel over the mountains to
reach the State and the people of Cali
fornia anticipate prosperous year on ac-
count OF the eopious rains that have sat
urated the valleys and the vast storage
Of water that is insured by the heavy
snowfall in the mountains.