Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-16
Blockade on Great Northern
and 500 Lines the Worst
Ever Known
FRlelp WEATHER NORTHWEST
Appeal. for Aid Como IT, From the
Fuel Famine Districts Of Northern
Minnesota and the Dakotas-Modsr-
atins Temperature Predicted and
Hoped For.

-01OWp 0GCP <liio DOSAAANSeSS'
stretches over the tracks of the west
ern railroads, and the wind stu con-
tinues to blow furious gale. To make
matters worse the temperature has
fallen many degrees. It was reported
at the Great Northern general offices
that the mercury registered IS degrees
below zero yesterday at Browning,
Mont. It is so cold in points along the
line in Montana that the mercury
freezes in the tubes: It was further
stated that all along the line, according
TO the thermometers Of the agents,
there is no point between Grand Forks
and Spokane where less than 50 de-
grees below was recorded. The gov
ernment reports do not give such
marks as the reports Of the agents. but
they bear out the statement that the
winter is unusually cold.
Great Northern employees are striv-
ing valiantly in their battle against the
snow drifts, which are so. dry and light
that as soon as they are cleared away
from one spot they drift right back
again. and the wind, which continues to
rage. piles the snow up In banks TWEEN
" and thirty feet high. The greatest
tie-up on the Great Northern line has
occurred in the district between
Browning and Cutbank, Mont, q dis
lance Of about forty miles. In this dis
trict rotary plows are sent against the
banks without result, and. tho piows
are kept going all night, it is impossi-
BILE to clear the tracks. Plows are sent
against the banks and are not heard
OF for hours. They are sent out in
combinations Of two and three, but as
soon as they make any progress the
way is blockaded again behind them.
There has been no snow In Montana
for the last two days, so the Great
Northern officials hope to have the
track partially cleared within two or
three days more.
Il was stated ct the general offices
that the snowfall in the west Is great
er than has ever been known before.
Between the Cascade and Rocky noun
tains, where there is scarcely ever any
snow, drifts are now piled seven feet
high. The surprised Inhabitants do
moi. know what to make Of 1t, and be-
cause snow comes SO rarely, they are
unprepared for such q heavy fall.
The railroad company is rushing
cars OF coal west as fast as possible,
In Sfact, nearly every train that goes
west, either freight or passenger. is
sent out with provisions and fuel for
thesrelief OF the prisoners in the snow.
On the 500 line conditions are as
bad as or worse than on the Great
Northern. The line between Ken
mare and Thief River. Falls. which was
built with the intention Of competing
with the Great Northern branch lines
has been abandoned, and no trains are
sent on It one way or the other. This
part of the line is not In the worst Of
the snow bound district.
Trains which connect with the
Canadian Pacific railway trains at
Moose Jaw have been delayed SO badly
that service is almost at a standstill.
The Canadian Pacific railway service
IN Canada, especially In the western
part, has been stopped for a. while.
All Of the telegraph wires are down,
and 1t is impossible to get trains thru
the drifts.
kilograms are pouring in at the
Northern Pacific every hour telling of
the conditions along the road in North
Dakota. All OF the trains are run with
three, and even four, engines. and are
preceded by rotary plows. but even
at that, they are delayed from one to
three days.
The weather man, however, promises
slight relief for Montana within a
few days. There has been little snow
Of late, and none is scheduled. Milder
weather is promised, and If 1t comes.
u rill be possible to clear the tracks.
Provisions Getting Low.
Imperial. N. D., jan. 16:--The 500,
from Flaxton to Ambrose, is blockaded.
There have been no trains since De-
cember 81. Snow is fifteen feet deep
In cuts, and three feet deep on the lev
ell Only Ignite coal mines are accessi-
bic, Provisions are getting low. There
is3no danger of freezing or starvation.
The line has not been abandoned. The