New-York tribune., 1901-04-04
HEAVY SNOWIN PITTSBURG
MUCH DAMAGE TO TELEGRAPH. TELE-
PHONE AND TROLLEY WIRES

Plttsburg, April 3.-Pittsburg was to-day the
centre Of snowstorm that began early in the
morning and continued with great force until after
doing thousands OF dollars worth of damage il
rendered practically useless for time every electric
wire in the city, suspended all sreetcar travel and
in the early hours isolated the city from the out
side world. Heavy rains fell before the came,
and all reports from uprver points tell Of rising
streams, which may bring about a flood here and
below. The losses cannot be fixed tonight but con-
servative estimates place the amount at between
$4,000 and s2G0.ooo Telegraph and telephone COM
panes are the heaviest losers because their lines
reach every par of the storm district.
Early ir the morning heavy wet snow began
falling and clung tenaciously TO everything II
touched. and by O'Clock every wire in the city
coated with The trunk lines or the
central district were the first to give way, and most
OF the other troubles which followed attributed
10 the failure of this service The poles were heav-
sly laden. carrying 80 telephone wires and two
cables. Wherever pole gave way lons stretches
Of other poles went with IT. falling over into the
street breaking trolley and electric light wires as
though they Were threads. In EIsworth-ave, from
Amberson-aVe. TO Craig-st. the wreck is complete,
every POLE being down. Five consolidated Gays were
caught in this district and were held there until
after O'Clock tonight. Centre-ave.. from Penn
sylvania-ave TO Craig-st is almost bad
shape as Ellsworth. Forbes-ave.. from Graf-ave. TO
CraiS-st-, is also PROSTATE. and Frankstown-ave.
for long distance mass Of poles and wires.
All Of these streets traversed by the Consoli-
dated Traction Company. and where the fallen
wires failed to break the troleys they completely
blocked travel. and from O'Clock until 80 p m.
not car moved east of Brady-st. BY dnt Of hard
work, with a large force of men, streetcar travel
resumed on the Fifth-aVe. line 1:30 O'Clock.
The other branches followed rapidly until all ex-
cept the Ellsworth-ave. line Were open by p
The telephone company has large force at work,
and say they viii be in operation within day or
TWO. Tonight, however at least one-haf Of their
telephones are out Of commission. The Pittsburg
and Allegheny Telephone Company suffered but
slightly, because its wifes mostly underground
The storm passed outward, and all the suburban
towns in that direction suffered proportionately
with this city. Williamsburg. Braddocks. Home
stead. DucCesne and MckeeSpOrt all report hls'
at standstil for portion Of the day, caused
by the proStratlon Of the wires. Allegheny escaped
with comparatively little damage, landslide at
the head Of Federal-st.. which brought of
earth 10 the street, covering the tracks to
depth OF five feet being the worst occurrence.
Mount Washington and the other hilltops suffered
severely.
All railroad trains from the east hours late,
having encountered in the mountains snow TO the
depth OF twelve and fifteen inches, which was
and clingtng that snowploughs could not clear
the tracks. For a time II feared there would
be a blockade both the Pennsylvania and Balti-
more and Ohio roads, but Tonight all trains
getting through. but not on anything Ike schedule
tine. The Western Union and Postal Telegraph
mpanies suffered heavily, the former not having
& wire its regular eastern routes up TO q late
hour to-nignt. and the latter having only two
far east as JohnstoWn