The Washington herald., 1909-03-06

The aftermath Of the Inauguration, so
far as the visitors 10 Washington are
concerned. is Wild and tragic experience
which VIII serve them as tea-table anec-
dOtes for years to come.
With railroad service stH partially de-
moraiized, with the immense Union sta
ticn. supposed 10 be built far in advance
Ct the needs Of the Capital, taxed and
strained as the rendezvous Of a huge.
helpless army Of outsiders. the 1909 ceIe-
bration win leave many cruel memories.
The blizzard mas been a severe inaic-
ton on the railroads. the telegraph and
telephone companies. There are 1.go
wires Of the Western Union PROSTATE
between Washington and PhiIadeIphia
and tie company estimates its loss
throughout the country at not less than
H,eaoa0 The Postal Company has suf-
fered even more heavily.
The trials and tribuIations of the thou
sands who tried to depart for home
sweet home" yesterday would FL a vol
ume The outgoing trains were running
two hours late as an average. and the
sehedciss we're hopeIessly dersnged
thousands Of strangers journeyed 10 the
station with sublime faith IN the time
table, and found that no one knew when
train No %. OF whatever number # was.
would pull out. One authority would ssv
In about two hours" another would es-
innate three It was all a matter Of
ehance.
Officials Helpless.
Il IS estimated. nevertheless that n ga
visitors shook the sIush Of Washington
from their heels yesterday. Trains were
r1a = s-0pporsGHity offered. Specials
were made Up as waiting regiments in the
station lost patience with aeonizinp de-
lays The officials were not confused
they were simply helpless. Many waiting
patriots took Two Or three meals In the
big terminal. and many whose trains
we're supposed 10 leave in the early even
ing slept through the night.
All outgoing trains were run on signal
for practically none OF the railroad wires
were repaired yesterday. Il is boped
however, to have the trains dispatcbed
this morning approximately according 10
the normal schedules. The inco77ing
trains were almost ignored Yesterday
Ire outgoing thousands had 10 be taken
care Of first.
The service 10 the larger cities. such
as New York, Boston. and Philadelphia.
has been largely restored. The local
service IS still more or less uncertain.
The Florida limited service. which caused
o good deal Of worry. has been restored.
and trains 10 the West are being sent
out on fairly good time As trains are
being run on signal only, the officials
make absolutely no promises as 70 time
Of reaching destinations. They know that
trains viii probably be hours late al
though. the worst conditions are within
q radius Of twenty-four miles about
Washington
Wire service Crippled.
The telegraph companies are still strain
Ing every nerve 10 restore communication
within the storm area, which seems IN
= bounded by Wilmington. Del. on the
east, and York. Pa. on the west In
this section all the wires are down. and
thousands Of poles snapped of. The snow
bound country roads make repair work
difficult All Enemen have been sent ont
and assistance from points as far dis
taut as Chicago and South Carolina has
been summoned
The Western Union Company has re-
stored communication with New York via
Richmond, Atlanta. and Cincinnati Balti-
more is completely cut or, and il is no;
hoped 10 have the lines working befors
tomorrow night BY an indirect route
a connection with Philadelphia has been
gained. The company is. however, ae-
cepting all business North, except Baiti-
more.
The Postal Telegraph Company is not
yet IN condition 10 know the real extent
Os its loss. The Bankers and Merchants
line through Prince George County, Nd.
Is a total wreck A week will be. required
for its restoration The scouts. mounted
on horses and plOwing their way through
drifts, precede the repair gangs, and were
able 20 penetrate only eight miles out
side Of Washington yesterday. In that
distance they found forty-eight poles
down.
Aid Is Summoned.
More than 80 Inemen are at work on
the three routes North. and other gangs
have been summoned from Chicago
Cleveland. and New York Only two wires
are intact along the Richmond line.
Messages 10 New York are being sen
via Birmingham. Louisville. and CHICAGO
SIX wires 10 Alexandra are intact
n this city the telephone service /.
more or less dem0ralized on the North
Columbia, and Lincoln branches. Their,
are 2100 subscribers without service, ant
the Takoma and Brightwood sections ar,
Continued On Page 3, Column ?.