The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-04
FIGHTING THE DRIFTS
Army of Snow ShOveIers on
the Colorado Roads.
OF COLD AND STARVATION
Cattle are Dying in the Biz
Yards Swept States,
OF COLD AND STARVATION

Denver, Col, Feb. SIT has been many
years since the Colorado railways have
rad to contend with such conditions as
those now prevailing in the mOu1ta- re-
gions. The loss to the railways in this
stata t&kln.y into consideration the bust
ness which Is not moving and the outlay Of
cash TO pay the armies of snow shovalers
is estimated at $4,000 a day. Not less
than 600 men have been shoveling snow
for several days Over 500 miles of road
in the mountains have been at times shut
off from communication with the main
lines Stormbound passengers are fed and
cared for by the railway companies. The
Denver and Rio Grande railway has a
large force OF men at work today, clearing
the tracks near Shoshone in the canon OF
the Grand river, where a snowslide occur
red yesterday, killing three men and in
juring six others of a wreclIing crew.
While no snow fell in Denver today snow
storms and cold waves are reported by the
weather bureau TO be bearing down upon
this city from every direction. A blizzard
prevailed at JesdviI!A. where snow has
IS the western terminus at present Of both
the Denver and Rio Grande and the Colo
rado Midland railroads, though neither is
sparing expense in it's efforts to clear the
tracks west Of that city.
Trains over the Rio Grande began run
ming today on regular schedule time be-
tween Denver and Leadville and from
Denver to Durango over the narrow gauge.
of7,s 81 mir q=Hf md
Junction t. Gunnison and Ouray over the
arrow gauge.
The Midland Ternira lis blcckaded but
communication with Cripple Greek is sill
maintained over the Florence and Grip
pie Creek line.
The first train from Como over the South
Park road since the beginning of the big
storm three weeks ago arrived in Denver
tonight. A rotary, followed by trainload |
of provisions, is cutting its way to Koko- !
mo and the intention is. If the train is |
not buried by snowslides, to enter Leadville |
tomorrow.
A dispatch from Silverton says Edward |
Rogers. a miner, was killed by snowslide |
near town today.
The officials of the Denver and Rio |
Grande Railway company say that system |
has not had such an experience since the
winter Of 1885.
At GIenwood Springs are three Rio
Grande and two Midland trains snow
bound. Each road has train at Lead
vile. and the Rio Grande two at Grand
junction and one at Minturn. No road |
except the Union Pacific is accepting
through westbound passengers.
Snow is reported on the Rio Grande
lines all the way from three feet on the
level at Glenwood Springs to six feet at
Crested Butte.
At o'clock this evening the mercury
stood at % below at Marshall Pass.
A train started from Mnturn with
gang Of shoveelers to open the line through |
the canyon Of the Grand river. At
o'clock this evening the train had not
even reached the canyon. The Denver and
Rio Grande company expects to have its
main line open by next Sunday.
The West minstrels, the Cay Coney
Island company and "Shart No 10" com
pany are all blockaded at different points
In the mountains.
LOSSES OF LIVESTOCK.
On the mountains thousands of cattle are
freezing and starving to death and nothing
can be done to save them. In eastern
Colorado hay is being hauled long dis
sances over the prairies to feed cattle and