Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-25
BAT THING THSNOW
Hereulean Task That Confronts West
ern Railroads..
WHAT TIE ROTARY PL0W HAS DONE
Lessons the Work and Danger in
Keeping Tracks Clear.
MANY ROW ESCAPES


Written for The Evening Star.
Thirty-two miles of snowshed at a cost
of S10,S13440 represents the price one
transcontinental railway had to pay be-
fore it could run its trains over the Rocky
mountain division Of its road That was
merely the first cost; since that outlay fully
100000 has been spent annually in keep
ing the sheds in repair and the exposed
tracks free from snow.
The various roads crossing the Rockies
have their seasons of play and their sea-
sons of work During the summer months
when even in the higher passes the sun and
warm winds serve to keep the perma nent
way clear and free, there is little to do
save the ordinary of repairs and recon-
struction. but along about the first of Oc-
tober all this is changed.
Little f1urries of snow on the level and
gradual but continuous spreading of white
on the tops in the upper crevices of the
mountains give warning that the hard des-
perate battles of the winter months are at
hand. The superintendent takes trip
over the road with his assistants, and a
careful inspection of the sheds and tunnels
is made. In divisional headquarters the
rotaries and the old-time Fuckers are
overhauled and prepared for use, and as
the middle of the month approaches the
watchmen who patrol the tracks are dou-
bled
There Is no mistakine the signs Even a
novice can see that something important
Is pending. In the divisional shops. in the
offices and even at the smaller stations
along the line there are evidences that the
period of work is soon to supersede the ease
of the summer days.
Stock of Food Laid In.
In the various baggage cars are placed
great wooden safes packed with condensed
foods. Beef in the form Of extracts, canned
soups, condiments ana hard bread, enough
to feed 100 persons for ten days. are care
fully deposited in these moving storehouses,
and from then until the coming of spring
they are inspected and overhau}ed once
each week by men detailed for the purpose
At the isolated stations and guarded sid
ings reserve supplies of provisions, coal.
wood and water are laid in. Then finally
arrives the dav when everything is reported
in readiness for the descent of winter.
The first call for the fighting contingent
of the vast railway army is always at
tended by scenes Of excitement. Lowering
skies and chill winds have foretold the fall
of snow, and when the various crews arise
some morning they find the earth covered
with a mantle of white.
1t is then the work gang boss overhauls
his men and sees that each unit in the
force IS provided with the necessary shovel
and spade. 1t is then. too, that the crew
of each snow plow and each reserve en-
CINE go over for the last time the various
bits of machinery and the divers couplings
upon which their lives are soon to de-
pend
Within twelve hours. If the fall is contin-
uoUs the plows go out. Each Is accompa-
MED by a gang Of shovelers, and straight
drive is made for those passes and cuts
where experience has foretOd the greatest
depth. If the snow is moist and 1aky quick
work is made of the banks, but II cold
weather has really set In and the snow has