Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-22
CHILLY IN KANSAS.
Sharp Cold Snap, With Wind and
Snow Yesterday-RailrOads
Badly BlOckaded.

Badly Blocknded.
TOPEKA, Now 21.-(SpecialD Kansas
was swept by severe snow and wind
storm to-day. From every section of the
state, however remote, comes the same re-
ports-"snow and heavy wind Sunday
was as fair a November day as was ever
witnessed in Kansas. OvercoatS We're
thrown aside and fires were allowed to die
in the houses. 1t was still as warm as a
June night up to IL O'Clock last night. Peo-
pie went to bed leaving windows all up.
Along about midnight a rapid change
began. high wind arose and it was
closely followed by rain and sleet. At ,
o'clock a. m. in this section of the state
the rain gave way to fine snow. While
the fall was not heavy. the wind drifted
it badly. The rain. in the meantime. had
frozen and the ground was transformed
into solid mass of ice. The streets are
SO slippery that traffic by wagon is almost
entirely suspended. The Topeka street rail-
way system has been tied up all day. An
effort was made to open the line the first
thing this morning, but the workmen could
make no headway. AS fast as they would
get a strip of track cleared the wind would
Grift more snow onto it. Finally all efforts
to operate the system while the storm was
in progress ceased. The only ones having
small boys with skates. They have con-
verted the streets into skating parks and
have almost a complete monopoly of them.
The sudden change caught all horses
smooth shod. In every direction this morn
ing horses could be seen falling down.
Finally the owners suspended operations
and headed for blacksmith shops. The
blacksmiths have been reaping a rich har-
vest all day. and will continue to do SO as
long as the snow and ice lasts. which now
looks good for several days.
The wintry spell also caught Topeka in 4
coal famine. A local dealer said to-day
that the dealers did not have enough coal
on hand to supply the demand for twenty
four hours. Dealers have been unable to
get a supply ahead on account of the
scarcity of coal cars and the strike in the
Usage county district.
General Prosperity is partially to
blame Cor this famine, also" said a dealer.
People are Using more stoves this year
than ever. Where one stove was made to
heat three OR four rooms in winters past.
now two and three stoves are being used.
This takes mere coal, of course. The deal
ers had not figured on this and as con-
sequence they are all short
Advices received at the general Offices of
the Santa Fe say that the storm is uni
versal all over the system in Kansas, eN-
cept in the far west From Dodge City
east from one to four inches of snow have
fallen, and the wind is piling it up in the
cuts from to three feet deep. From
Garden City west the snow is not so heavy,
but the wind is cutting all kinds of capers.
on the Oklahoma division there is snow
and wind as far south as Perry. From
there TO Texas it is rain and wind, with
an occasional strip of country enjoying u
sleet storm. 1t is showing On the Chicago
division as far east as Illinois, and adViceS
say that the storm is moving on east at a
good gait. In the vicinity of Denver there
is a light snow. with the thermometer
standing Is above zero.
The Rock Island general offices report
from one to five inches of snow along its
line from Kansas City and St. Joseph TO
Colorado. with heavy wind blowing from
Topeka west. Superior. Neb., reports a
severe storm raging there.
Reports received at the Union Pacific are
! the same as those received by the Santa
| Fe and Rock Island.
! Trains on these roads We're moving al
right up till noon, but Assistant General
| Superintendent Avery Turner of the Santa
Fe, said that if the storm continued as
fierce until nightfall serious trouble wouid
| be encountered in the movement of traffic
! At s o'clock this morning the Western
Union had only one wire out of Topeka
! in working order. but by o'clock enough
wires had been repaired TO handle the
business. Manager Bevelle stated that re
. ports from nearly every important offic.
in the state indicated that the storm was
general and that 1t was doing serious dam
age.
Secretary Coburn, of the state board Of
agriculture, says that while the storm will
make cattle how up their backs on tn,
plains and prevent cows from giving dowr
/ the usual amount of milk. il will do NJ
serious damage unless it becomes muci
more severe. THE weather is not cole