New-York tribune., 1905-01-26
JERSEY CITY PARALYZED.
Commuters Cro5od Ferry Stations
Nearly Ill Cars Tied Up.

The conditions in Jersey City may be summed
up in the one word-paralyzed. In the early
morning it seemed as If mans ingenuity could
successfully cope with a storm of unusual sever
ity. but as the morning advanced it was pain
fully evident that man was losing ground in the
battle. and by noon traffic was almost totally
arrested and business practically suspended.
The one exception that of the saloons in the
manufacturing district and the Office section.
Many OF the factories were closed at midday,
either because Of the scarcity Of workmen, the
lack Of sufficient power the inability to get
coal Some thoughtful employers and managers,
realizing that the storm increasing in sever
ity and developing into blizzard, closed their
factories to enable the employees to get home be-
fore dark Tho attendance at the public schools
was meagre. The primary pupils, after having
been warmed and their clothing dried, were sent
home, and the grammar department pupils were
dismissed at noon.
The Public Service Corporation made des-
perate effort to keep its cars moving close to the
schedule, and succeeded until about o'clock in
the morning, when the snowdrifts began to form
and buried the tracks so deeply in places that
the cars were stalled. The gangs Of workmen
with shovel and broom arrived frequently in
time to see the capricious wind whisk away the
hill of snow. The company had every available
motorman and conductor on duty, and every car
sweepers. with the hope of keeping open the
several lines. One line after another was Writ
ually closed, however. until all that were in
operation in the late afternoon were the Mont
gomery-st.. Bayonne and Greenville only three
OF the eleven lines, and these the cars were
run in trains. The Summit-ave line, from the
Erie ferry. was kept partly open, and cars were
run at long intervals and in punches, usually
preceded by the snowplough. The scene at the
car station, at the ferry IN Jersey City, at the
close Of the day was one of wild disorder Hun
dreds of men. women, boys and girls waiting
for cars struggled for places Of advantage and
there was mad tug OF war in the rush for the
incoming
OF the persons compelled to brave the storm
several were overcome but good Samaritans
were near, and the helpless were assisted TO
places of shelter until they had recovered and
were able to again resume another stretch in
their journey. One young girl, Margaret lyman.
Of No. BOZ 4th-st., Hoboken, who is employed
by dressnaker on Jersey City Heights, tried
to reach her place Of employment by following
the usual short cut the narrow path up the side
Of the hill. The task too great for her
strength. and little more than half way up the
steep ascent she sank exhausted in a snow
mound and probably would have perished If a
truck driver named Frank Molino had not been
watching the girl in her perilous undertaking.
Molino carried her to the road and into a car,
where. with the aid Of passengers, she was
revived. Chief Of Police Murphy, with vivid
recollection of the fatalities Of the blizzard of
1885, ordered that the policemen patrol eXer-
else unusual vigilance.