The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-11
MORE SNOW is FALLING
Colorado Is in the Grip of
Another Blizzard.
A DESPERATE SITUATION
Mines at Aspen Are Closing Down
on Account of Lack of Fuel-Cat-
tie Are Dying on the Ranges
Throughout the West

Denver, Colo, Feb. 10.-The appar-
emily interminabe snowstorm on the
mountains in the vicinity of Leadville
resumed sway early to-day after a brief
respite during the night. However, the
wind and cold had abated and the con-
ditions We're more favorable for the
work of breaking down the snow bar
riers which have closed the railroads
and cut many mountain towns off from
communication with the outside world
The Leadville mine and smelter man
ayers made good their offer of a thou
sand snow shovelers to open the Denver
d Rlo Grande railroad between Lead
vile and Malta, in order to get food
and coal into the camp. One gang be-
gan work at midnight and at 7 O'Clock
1t was relieved by another. The Little
Johnny mine closed down for the day
and many others were operated by half
the usual force. Colonel George w.
Cook and other mine managers were in
charge of the shovel and pick brigade
Much hard work was required to re-
move the ice from the rails, but the
track was finally cleared so that it was
possible to run into Leadville 20 cars
of coal that had been stalled at Malta
On the Colorado Midland large force
of men, working under the direction f
Agent Sneve, succeeded in breaking the
blockade at Snowden, and brought in
so cars of coal
The Midland people believe they will
not need the assistance of the snow
ShoVelerS a. work on the Rio Grande
but by tomorrow will have their road
entirely open. They started a train
from Leadville this afternoon bound for
Denver. Their passenger train which
left Denver last Tuesday, was brought
into Leadville and the road is now clear
for coal cars, which will be brought in
before passenger trains. Present est-
mates are that the downtown mines
have coal enough to last three to five
days and supply will be rushed to
the Little Johnny and other outlying
mines. There are plenty of provisions
in the camp and more are promised
from the East tomorrow s...
A shortage which is felt very much is
that of mining timbers, which cannot
be obtained owing to the deep snow
This shortage will delay development
work for several months.
The situation at Aspen is quite as
desperate as at Leadville. No trains
are running to the great silver camp
on the west of the range, and it is re-
ported that the mines there are closing
down for want of fuel There have
been some snowslides in the camp, but
no fatalities have resulted, so far as
known. Mountain roads ito surrounding
camps have been impossible, as the
high winds have piled up the snow 10
to 20 feet in places.
The telephone line from Aspen to
Hunter Pass has undoubtedly been
swept away by a slide, as it went down
several days ago. A large force of men
are at work shoVeling out the road 10
these mines.
West of Leadville the railroads are
still tied up tightly. In the canyon of
the Grand there have been six snow
slides. One of them was 400 feet in
length and 35 feet deep. In it are huge
boulders and trees.
Superintendent Sample and Assistant
General Manager Schlacks are on the
ground experimenting the work of
clearing the Rio Grande track The
snow shovelers at Shoshone struck to-
day for an increase of wages from ST. 75
to $2.5 day.
The Marshall pass is again closed, but
the rotary is bucking the drifts there,
and the narrow gauge may soon be re-
opened. Down on the Cumbres pass the
storm has put an end to railroading for
several days and there are so many
other troubles of a more serious nature
that at present Cumbres is given the
go-by.
The two delayed trains which We're at
Belden were finally released and reached
Denver to-day. The passengers on two
eaStbound trains. who had been staying
at Glenwood Springs. were sent back
to Ogden via the Rio Grande Western
and will be brought east over the Union
Pacific. 1t is believed that the two
eastbound trains tied up at Minturn will
be able to get through Tonight
On the South Park line trains are
running only as far as Grant.
Como, Breckenridge, Kokomo and all
towns on the high line to Leadville are
completely isloated. No news was re-
ceived from those places to-day. but it
is known that in some of them fuel and
provisions are becoming scarce
In the North park there is about three
feet of snow on the level. Travel is i'm
possible on account of the large drifts
Walden has not received any mail for a
week and expects none for 10 days to
come. 1t is doubtful if any freight can
reach that town for a month.
A snowstorm with a cold wind from
the north began here to-day and should
another very cold wave follow it will
undoubtedly have disastrous effect on
the live stock on the ranges.
Opened the Line.
Leadville, Col, Feb. 10.-Colonel
Cooks brigade of snow shovellers sue
ceeded in opening the Denver & Rio
Grande railroad as far as Malta, five
miles below this city. and releasing the
fY,F,N loo, ll