The Meeker herald., 1899-04-22
Raising the Snow Blockade on
Colorado Midland After the
Worst Storms Known
to History.
Statistics and Heroic Deeds that Reflect
Energy Of the Management in Bat
tling with the Storm King.
Track will be clear at 1880 p. m.p

but the words were full of significance
to officers and employees of the Colorado
Midland railway. For seventy. seven
days the main line of the system was
locked in the grasp of the ice king
Yesterday the glad news flashed over
the wires that brains and energy and
muscle had at last triumphed and once
more the transcontinental traffic would
be resumed. Every body about head
quarters breathed easier ard orders
were at once dispatched for the usual
train service to be resumed Coegratu-
lations began to reach headquarters
even before the first order to move had
been issued, and large shippers at differ
ent points on the line began to give
notice that they would lose no time IN
"loading OUT
The snow blockade of the Colorado
Midland road will go into history as the
most remarkable event of the kind in
the railroad experience of the Rocky
mountain region. Remarkable, because
of the almost unceasing storms which
swept for more than two months across
Hagerman pass, and remarkable OH ac-
count Of the mighty efforts put forth by
every agency known to meet and sue
cessfully combat the fierce elements.
From the evening of January q to the
evening of April IA the fight never
ceased, except when the baflled but not
discouraged human forces were obliged
from sheer fatigue to retire for rest.
A history of the advance and retreat,
the consultations, tile assembling of
new forces, the fresh attack, the mighty
impact and the almost overwhelming
ldscouragements would make volume
Two great JUL plows and powerful rO-
tary, backed each by five great locomo-
tiyes and accompanied by complete
crews consisting of skilled engineers,
firemen, trainmen, conductor, p to l5O
snow shovelers, all under direction of
the superintendent, trainmaster or road.
master, made an ensemble which once
seen in the field could not soon be for
gotten. Each of the snow plows was
provided with a keen eyed man known
as the lookout, whose duty it was to
give warning of danger. Each division
of five engines and snow plow was pro-
vided with complete lodging and board
ing outfits, and while the fighters were
at the front new forces were constantly
being recruited to take the places of
of those worn ont by exposure. At one
time the valiant heroes continued forty
two hours without stopping, and two
engine crews were rescued at another
time after they had been in continuous
service for G2i hours. Yesterday two
engines were released which had been
frozen in for seventy-three days.
The story seems incredible, but per-
sons, who looked upon the mountains of
snow which detied removal confess
that every word is true. In spots the
snow was banked up to height of
thirty-tive feet, and once big gang of
men required two hours to dig down to
the roof of snowshed which covered
the railway track. In many places 1t
was necessary to tunnel the snow banks
and blow up the mass of snow over
head with dynamite. Then the plow
would be rushed against the yielding
body and new tunnel permitted to ad-
vance for few feet.
1t is estimated by persons who have a
liking for figures that the management
of the Midland spent 100000 cash In
battling the snow. At one time 773
men were at work in the snow fields.
and during the month of February the
expenses of maintaining the army
amounted to $4,000. Sixteen standard
gauge engines were called into use, and
during the progress of the fight every
thing was made subsidiary to the one
object of opening the main line. Near
ly all the employees of the system were
at one time or another enrolled in a
snow-backing crew. and to the credit