Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-02-01
BELOW ZERO.
Far West Beginning to Get Some
Relief-Aiding Destitute in
Chicago.

Chicago, ILL.,, JAM 26-At 8 o'clock this
morning the government thermometer
showed temperature of 10 degrees be-
low zero. This is 3 degrees warmer than
at the same time yesterday. but there was
little comfort derived from that fact, it
being l degree colder than at 2 a. m.
Ihe signal service today reported all
the cold area extending all over the
west and northwest, and no prospect of a
material let up in the intensity of the
cold for at least twenty-four hours. All
trains today were more or less delayed by
snow drifts and inability to make steam.
A general complaint was raised by the
people living in the suburbs. AT many
of the suburban stations no shelter is af-
forded the passengers and many cases of
frOStbite have occurred.
The proclamation issued by Mayor Swift
has met with a hearty response. Besides
over $4,000 in cash, hundreds of tons of
coal, and almost unlimited supplies of
provisions have been sent in and prompt
ly distributed. Seven hundred of the
more desperate cases Of restitution have
already been relieved and the work is be-
ing carried on without cessation.
The cold snap which is causing SO
much suffering and Inconvenience to
many, has given employment to over
1900 men. The cold weather has
brought to the ice dealers just what they
wanted, for last week they were Won
ice needed for next summer. Thirty
five ice companies have plants at points
on the Wisconsin Central and Chicago
C North Western railroads within 100
miles of Chicago and twenty of these
firms began operations on the ice fields
today.
From this city $500 men were sent to
points along the Wisconsin Central and
as many went out over the North West
ern. The icefelds south of Chicago will
also be opened up today and before the
week is over there will be about 1000
men employed at ice gathering within
sixty miles south from Chicago If the cold
weather continues the ice men say they
Will have one of the finest crops ever
gathered.
Fully 1000 people were given shelter last
night at the different police stations and
Salvation army barracks. The new iso-
lation hospital was thrown open today,
the council having appropriated $4,000
for that purpose. and it will be used for
cases of contagious disease among the
poor. 1t will also have the effect of re-
lieying the congested condition of the
city and county hospitals, which are SO
crowded that not q case of contagious dis
ease has been taken in since Friday.
Eight hundred new cases of families
requiring immediate aid were reported to
the police today and supplies were fur
nished as fast as possible.
At IL o'clock the government Their
mometer registered 11h degrees below
zero, a rise of S1a degrees since yesterday
morning, when the low mark of the pres
ent cold snap of 20 below was recorded.
The thermometer today is keeping about
) degrees above yesterdays registrations.
An unknown man was found frozen to
death just outside the village of Tin
ley Park on the Rock Island road. This
is the second death from the cold. Sew
eral cases of severe freezing were also
reported. one or two of which will proba-
oily result in the loss of hands or feet.
Fires of all kinds and descriptions kept
the firemen busy nearly all day and
nearly every man in the fire department
is almost exhausted from the constant
battle with the flames in the bitter
weather