Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-05
WIND LESS SEVERE In OMAHA
Storm Was General Over Central and
Western States.
MANY TRAINS ABANDONED ON RAILWAYS
Terrific Winds Prevailed in Many
Sections, but They Were Not
So Severe in This
ID n Vicinity. 81.

Continued cold weather with the mercury
around the zero mark, is the present out
look for Tuesday, said Forecaster WEIGH
after the observation taken at o'clock last
night
During the day yesterday the thermometer
fluctuated from 10 degrees to degrees above
zero between the hours of Z o'clock a. m.
and o'clock p. m, growing rapidly colder
toward midnight. The wind in the middle of
the day blew at the rate of twenty-eight
miles an hour, dropping in the evening to
sixteen miles. The amount of snow falling
was slight, only .O7 of an inch being re-
ported between the hours of in the morning
and at night.
In connection with the wind velocity,
while it has been far from pleasant to face
the snow-laden breezes which whirled
through the downtown streets, Omaha was
favored in comparison with the billiards.
which visited other cities. Some of the re-
ports received at the local weather bureau
show that at noon, yesterday Chicago was
experiencing a wind from the west that
blew at the rate of forty-eight miles an hour
st. Louis, from the southwest, at the rate of
forty-elght miles an hour; Corcorda, Kan,
thirty-siX miles an hour; Bismarck n. D.,
thirty-siX miles an hour; Huron, s. D., from
the northwest, at the rate of fifty-two miles
cheyenne, tElrty-elBHt lnlfeS an nOuT, NOrln
Platte, forty miles an hour, and Rapid City,
thirty miles an hour. The lowest tempera-
ture reported in the west thus far for yester-
day was at Bismark, where it touched the
zero mark
The snow in Omaha impeded business but
little. Drifts persisted in collecting along
the sidewalks which, toward night, froze
hard making a good crust to walk upon in
the many instances where the owner of a
sidewalk refused TO get out his shovel.
The street railway company put its snow
plows back in the barns at noon, but kept
tine salt car going over the lines most of the
day. This, in connection with the constantly
passing car wheels, kept the rails fire.. from
snow.
AT Union Pacific headquarters all trains
were reported slow during the entire day.
The eastbound overland, due here at 4:45,
came in in two sections, the second section
being an hour and a half late. But little
snow was reported falling over the main
line, but that which had already fallen was
reported as drifting badly. mixed train,
which was sent out over the Grand Island
& Loup City branch at noon yesterday, made
heavy weather of il for about two hours and
'at length came to a standstil near Dame
brog. A snowplow will be sent out from
Grand Island this morning to eXtricate It,.
Snow In the yards of the company at Grand
Island badly impeded the shifting CT ears
and all business for a time yesterday was
at a standstill The snow as fast as shovels1
from the tracks was thrown back by the
wind, and it was not until late last night
that any progress in clearing the yards was
made. The snow in places reached a depth
of six feet. The westbound passenger train
leaving Omaha at $3.50 was on time at last
reports. 1t was decided, however not to
send out all the westbound freigl1ts last
night, and but one left early in the evening
II made slow work of IT, due to the slippery
condition of the tracks. The Columbus &
Norfolk branch was reported as still tied
up late last night, but will probably be
opened today.
The Burlington reported all trains on time
and but little snow along its main line or
those leading south.
The Minneapolis & Omaha line reported lit
tie snow falling in thd northwestern portion
Of the state. The wind, which blew half a
gale near Sioux City, Norfolk and Wayne,
was reported as much lowered in velocity
last night. The passenger train due here
from the north at o'clock last night was
three hours late, due to the drifting snow.
Snowplows will be sent out by the company
this morning from Omaha, Sioux City, Nor
folk and Emerson and the trains, barring
additional snow, will be running ON time
4p1a