Evening star., 1902-03-17
STORMS IN THE WEST
RAILROADS BLOCKED BY HEAVY
FALL OF SNOW.
Temperature Took Sudden Fall
Along With the Precipitation
Warm Wave Following.

Warm wave Following.
DENVER. Col, March 1.-THE snow and
wind storm that has been raging for the
past four days along the mountain railroads
is beginning to make itself felt. Snow
plcws have been keeping the lines open and
extra gangs of men have been fighting the
drifts clear of the tracks. Small slides are
Icing reported, while the drifts are growing
to great depth. On Tennessee Pass nearly
four feet of snow has fallen and the snow
on the ground on Marshall Pass has reach
ed the depth of seventy-eight inches
Colorado and Southern trains are held a,
Alpine because the entrance to the Alpine
Tunnel is blocked, and the South Park
branch is tied mp. The Rio Grande and
Colorado Midland roads are still open, but
are liable to become blocked at any mo-
ment.
CHICAGO, March 17.-Chicago expert
enced severe winter weather TODAY Since
Saturday there has been drop in the tenn
perature of fifty degrees. At 8 am. today
the mercury registered four degrees above
zero. while strong wind added to the gen.
eral discomfort 1t Is predicted that the
temperature will begin to rise tomorrow.
Winnipeg cut Off.
Winnipeg is reported entirely cut off from
railroad communication with the outside
world. The Canadian Pacific transconti-
mental trains are snowbound somewhere
west Of there, and no prospect of relief is
yet in sight
The storm started on Friday, being pre-
ceded by a light rainfall and accompanied
by high winds. The rain soon turned to
seet and then to snow, and this has fallen
without cessation for more than, thirty-slX
hours. The terrific gale drifted the snow
badly, and it is next to Impossible to wade
through the streets. Business of all kinds
has been at a standstill since Friday night,
and not mucn can be done until the storm
subsidies.
So far as known there has been no loss
of life, but owing to the deneralized con-
dition of the wires little news has been
received from the remote Districts The
farmers hail the advent of the snow with
delight, as the ground had been very dry,
and this abundance Of moisture will put it
in excellent shape for the spring seeding.
A dispatch from Marquette, Mich. says:
The upper peninsula tonight is in the throes
OF o! a cold wave. Balmy,' spring-like weather
mas suddenly given way to chilling blasts,
and at many points the mercury is lowering
around the zero mark At Marquette this
evening the temperature registers 10 above.
This is drop Of 80 degrees since yesterday.
Snow has been falling at intervals since
morning.
Pleases the Lumbermen.
The change is welcomed by lumbermen,
and should freezing weather continue for
several days, as is predicted, 1t will serve
materially to cut the losses of those loggers
who have been hard hit by an unprecedent-
edly early breakup.
A dispatch from Detroit, Mich, says: Be-
tween o'clock this afternoon and 10
o'clock tonight the temperature here
dropped 26 degrees. registering 26 above
zero at the latter hour. High wind ana
f1urries Of snow accompanied the sudden
tall, which was general throughout the
state In the extreme southwestern part Of
the state veritable blizzard prevailed.
A dispatch from Lacrosse, Wis. says: The
Thermometer here registered zero today,
and tonight the mercury is still falling.
A nigh wind is blowing and small buildings
and trees have been wrecked in all parts of
the city. Trains on all lines are delayed
several hours.
A special from Elk City, Idaho, says that
w. I. Murphy and ]. A. Fields have just
arrived there from Thunder mountain
They came on snowshoes and by forced
marches made the distance in two days and
a half. They report four and one-half feet
OF snow on Thunder mountain, and say
that provisions cannot be bought for any
price They came out for supplies, and
will return at once
NOTIuWeSC SnOWOOuuQ.
dispatch from st. Paul, Mimi, last
night says: North Dakota and the Can
adian northwest have experienced the
worst snowstorm in many years and rail-
road traffic is practically paralyzed. The
Northern Pacific and Great Northern have
not moved wheel for nearly thirty-six
hours In the blizzard stricken district and
have abandoned all efforts to do SO until
the fury of the storm shall abate.
The high wind has piled the snow In the
mountains and packed it in solid masses,
many deep cuts being entirely filled. The
temperature has been gradually falling and
is now at or below the zero mark. Not a
transcontinental train has arrived at st.
Paul since Friday and none is expected for
several days.
The Northern Pacific reports it's west
bound coast trains which left st. Paul yes
terday morning tied Up at. Fargo. the road
beyond there being blocked. II will start a
coast-bOund train TOMORROW morning and
hopes to be able to get tt through. The
east-bound coast train DUG here Saturday
morning is held at Manaan, N. D., and no
attempt will be made to move 1t before to-
morrow. Every effort isbeengs made by the
road to keep Its passengers Who are snow
bound warm and well fed. md Tor this rea-
son trains are being held at stations where
the accommodations are GOOD rather than
attempt to get them threagh with q pOssi-
Dliify OF being tied up between stations.