Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-16
RAILROAD TRAFFIC
is STILL DELAYED
Trains Are Discontinued or Run Far
Behind Schedule Tlme-ereat Des,
titution In Des Moines and Else.
where-oskaIoosa, in Center Of Coal
Field, Lacks Fuel supply.

Des Moines, Feb. 15.-Not IN many
years has Iowa been SO completely
shut in by the cold and snow as to-
day Not in the entire state has a
railway train made trip on schedule
time, and in most sections the train
service has been practically aban-
doned for twenty-four hours. There
Is coal famine in score Of the larger
towns and cities, and food famines in
other places.
Lack Of Coal Serious.
At Indianola>the lack Of fuel is seri-
SS GUS, and Simpson college has closed
to relieve the general situation. At
Waterloo and Fort Dodge factories
have closed down. In Marshalltown
the Soldiers home faces a serious situ-
alton as does the Boys Industrial
school at Eldora and the Girls Indus
trial school at Mitchelville. The cry
for fuel has become so urgent that the
Rock Island and other roads have an
nounced coal trains will be given pref
erence over all other traffic, and pas
senger service will be practically
abandoned.
DestitutIon In Des Molnes.
The Associated Charities Of Des
Moines, which practically looks after
I'll the city's poor in a pHblic appeal,
says that never before In, the history
Of the association has there been such
intense suffering as that called to the
attention of that body in the past
week of unbroken cold Hundreds Of
Iowa towns are suffering for fuel,
and many farmers are burning corn
to keep warm.
Des Moines has hard coal famine
Less than a car load of anthracite is
to be had in the city.
oskaIoosa's Odd Situation.
Oskaloosa, Feb. 15.-( Especial up
to noon today only one train had
reached Oskaloosa since late Saturday
> night Though located in the heart of
the coal field of Iowa Oskaloosa faces
fuel famine. The blockade is the
worst ever known here.
!, No Burlington Branch Trains.
Burlington, Feb. 15.-Confronted by
apparently unsurmountable conditions
the railroad officials today abandoned
all efforts to run trains on the branch
lines out Of Burlington. Only main
line trains are moving. The mercury
was fourteen degrees below zero here
this morning.
Railroads All Crippled.
Chicago, ILL.,, Feb 15. The mer-
curry stood at degrees below zero to.
day. Railway service is much ham.
pered, chiefly because Of the difficulty
in keeping up steam.
Peoria. ILL.,, Feb. Is. ~ The temper.
ature here is 8 below zero. Railway
&C.
S. Paul, MINI, Feb. Is. The mer.
curry registered 18 degrees below zero
here today.
Lacrosse. Wis. Feb. Is. az At I
o'clock this morning the weather bu
reau thermometer registered 16 de
grees below and those on the street
showed % degrees blow zero.
Tie-Up At Fairfield.
Fairfield Feb. Is. - Owing to the
inclement condition of the weather
and the uncertainties of railroading
the Iowa Malleable Iron company was
compelled to close down their plant
for few days on account Of the Goa
famine. They have been very fortu
nate in securing coal in the past, but
as their particular coal comes from
Pennsylvania it is quite difficult al
LILIES W 6SL luS COdt WuGu IL IL
needed. Reports from many points
over the country show this to have
been the coolest weather in years, the
thermometer ranging from % to 81
degrees below zero. Snow drifts have
completely tied up traffic and in many
cases the wagon roads have beer
blocked by the drifts making it almost
impossible for the rural carriers to de
liver mial. A number Of routes have
been abandoned and with the higf
wind of yesterday which further pilet
the snow, it may be several days be
fore the mails can be regular again
Trains Stuck in Snow.
Madison, Wis, Feb. is. - No trains
on this division of the Chicago &
Northwestern railroad have arrived
since last week.
Thirteen trains are stuck in snow
drifts between here and Montfort.
] BATTLEsHIP is DEFECTIVE.
Tba nbio a Ne>u NeseeI Naad. cxa..