Newport weekly independent., 1902-03-21
PARALYzsNG SNOW STORMS.
TrafIic in the Northwest Tied Up By the Worst Snow storm in Many
 Years.

St. Paul. Minn.. March 16. North Dakota and the Canadian northwest have eSperj enced the worst snow storm in hlany years, and railroad traffic is practically paralyzed, The Northern Pacific and Great Northern have not moved a wheel for nearly thirty-six hours in the blizzard stricken district, and have abandoned all efforts to do so until the furN of the storm abatcs. The high wind has piled the snow in mountainous drifts and packed it in solid masses, many deep cuts being entirely filed. The temperature has been gradually falling, and is now at or below the zero mark.
 No transcontinental train has ar rived in St. Paul since Friday, and none is expected for several days.
 The Northern Pacific reports its west-bound coast train, which left St. Paul yesterday morning, tied mp at Fargo, the road beyond there be- ing blocked. 1t will start coast- bound train tomorrow morning, and hopes to be able to get it through. The east-bound coast train due here Saturday morning is held at Mandan, N. D., and no attempt will be made to move it before tomorrow. Every effort is boing made by the road to keep it's passengers who are snow bound, warm and well fed For this reason trains are being. held at sta- tions where the accommodations are good rather than attempt to get them through with a possibility of being tied up between stations.
 The Red River Valley division of the Northern Pacific between Frank fort and Winnipeg is entirely aban- doned. No trains have attempted to run since Friday night, and the ex- act conditions on this disyision are not known by the general officers. here, as the telegraph wires have been carried down by the burden of sleet which preceded the heavy snow fall.
 The situation on the Great North ern is equally bad. The line is tied up entirely between Grand Forks and Williston, N. D., distance of about thirty-five miles, and all wires have been lost beyond Fargo. Thirty miles of wire are gone between Ear go and Casselton, N D.. and all com munication with western Dakota and Montana points has been lost. So fierce has been the storm that it has been deemed inadyisable to attempt to reopen the road until it abates. Reports received at the general of fees tonight indicate that the gale has somewhat abated, but that the snow still continues to fall
 The branch of the Great Northern running to Winnipeg is also tied mp. No trains have started northward since Friday night, and those that were caught out on the road by the storm have been held at the station near the border.
 Winnipeg is reported entirely cut off from communication with the outside world.
 Canadian Pacific transcontinental trains are snowbound somewhere west of there, and no prospects of relief is in sight
 The storm started on Friday. be- ing preceded by light rainfall and accompanied by high winds. The rain soon turned to sleet and then to snow and this has fallen without cessation for over thirty-six hours. The terrific gale drifted the snow so badly that the streets of the towns in the storm district were filed so deeply that it was next to impossi- ble to wade through them Business of all kinds has been at standstilL since Friday night, and not much can be done until the storm subsidies.
 So far as known there has been no loss of life, but owing to the de- moralized condition of the wires lit- tie news has been received from the remoter 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.
 SNOW ON THUNDER MOUNTAIN Four and One-HaIf Feet of Snow, and Pro-
 visions UnobtainabIe at Any Price.
 Spokane, Wash, March 17-A spe- cial to the Spokesman-Review from