The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-27
MANTLE OF WHITE
Topeka and Kansas in Grip of
the Storm Fiend.
Heaviest Snow in Years Has
Been Falling Today.
TRAFFIC IS STOPPED.
Only Two Street Car Lines Open
at 2 p. m.
Snow Then Nearly Foot Deep
on the Level.
THE END is NOT YET.
Weather Bureau Says May Con-
tinue Tomorrow.
Pedestrians Have Much Diff
Guilty in Travelling.
Railroads Using Snow PIOws
and Trains Moving.
Weather Bureau Says May Con-
tinue Tomorrow.
Pedestrians Have Much Diff.
Guilty in Travelling.
Railroads Using Snow PlOws
and Trains Moving.

Today's snow is the heaviest that has
fallen in Topeka for years, and the
prospects are that it will continue dur
ing the night.
Early this morning the street cars
were blocked. The snowfall ceased early
in the morning and the tracks were
opened for travel, but the snow began
falling heavier and soon the cars We're
stopped Snow plows and sweepers were
gotten out and with several cars
coupled together the lines were kept
open and trips We're made irregularly
The Twelfth street line was not opened
at ALL BY o'clock all the lines ex-
ceptlng Sixth avenue and Kansas av-
enue were blocked. The restaurants
did a rushing business at the noon hour
and the hackmen were kept busy. Poor
Commissioner Hale has been busy, but
many families who need help are I'M
aple TO reach his office to get supplies.
The telegraph companies report that
their lines are working well and that
no trouble is expected from the snow
unless the colder wave predicted for to-
night turns the snow to sIeet and loads
the wires. The snow was falling 50
thickly this morning that at IL o'clock
1t was impossible to see the state house
dome from the top of the Columbian
building.
will extend through tomorrow and be
much heavier The center of today's
snowstorm is supposed to be in west
ern Kansas, and the eastern part of the
state is on the edge. The forecast is
threatening, with probably heavy
snow tonight and extreme east portion
Wednesday. Colder extreme west por-
tion tonight" The forecast means that
the center of a heavy snowstorm will
be in eastern Kansas tonight and
Wednesday, will he a IN
of todays snow. There is a low ba-
rometer moving from California east
ward, and it is almost certain that such
a low will always bring precipitation
in Kansas. The maximum temperature
today up to II o'clock was % and the
minimum 20. From to 10 O'Clock this
morning the thermometer stood at 20.
| The wind is in the east, making twelve
miles an hour The snow is supposed
to be quite general over the state. 1t
will be good for the winter wheat
The storm prevails over the most of
Kansas and central Missouri. It began
falling at 4 o'clock this morning and
with but little variance has been falling
steadily ever since. There is little in
dication of abatement soon. The tenn
| perature is high and the wind is light
indicating that the storm center will
not change under such conditions The
absence of wind has caused an even
fall and very little trouble from drifts
BLOCKADE IMMINENT.
The Santa Fe trains due here at 1870
and 1890 were running nearly on time
! by using double-headers and snow
| plOws
The noon train on the Rock Island
| was only a few minutes late. Late re-
| ports from over the state are to the eff
feet that it is hard fighting to keep the
/ tracks open and that if the snow con-
| tinues falling a few hours more, it will
| no doubt cause a complete blockade.
PEOPLE STAY INDOORS.
! During fhe errea fer mart of tbe dav tho
! streets have been almost deserted. Few
people ventured out in the storm unless
/ compelled to do so. ThOs who were in
Offices generally remained in them dur
/ ing the hour for lunch, ana they either
went hungry or sent out for something
/ to eat
/ But few attempts were made to keep
/ the snow off the walks. Here and there
a man worked faithfully with a shovel
/ to keep the snow from accommodating to
too great a depth but the majority of
people allowed it to pile up. AS con-
/ sequence even on Kansas avenue there
are only half broken paths along the
/ sidewalks, and on the side streets peo-
| pie have to stumble through a single
narrow path.
People from over the state who are
in Topeka attending the A o. L. W.
! grand lodge were SOlicitOus as to the
| extent of the storm, especially the stock
men. One of these latter came to the
State Journal office to make inquiries
explaining that when there is a straight
even fall of snow in this part of the
state it is ofteutimes accompanied by a
high wind out on the plains where there
| is nothing to break the force of the
wind A driving wind accompanied by
a damp snow is very hard on cattle
and they are likely. to break out of
| their enclosures and wander away in
i the storm.
when it is showing like this in west
ern Kansas" said the man, and the
4 wind is blowing at all severe, it is not
safe to get 100 feet away from the
/ house"
THRILLING EXPERIENCES
While most Of the shop gfrls and bus
| mess men were either staying il the
( stores or running across the streets to
/ restaurants at noon time, a party of
girl clerks. six in number braved the
storm and started for dinner
They live in the west part of town.
/ Wrapping their cioaks around them,
| bundling up their faces and with UNI
| brellas at a charge they left the store
and started up the street, to the trans
/ fer e1stion- No cars running They
werergz=1ost ready to turn back but
| knowing what jibes awaited them If
they did they pushed on. Few had ven