The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-08
GARDEN CITY LIES UNDER
FlEEcY BLANKET IS INCHES
IN DEPTH.
ALL MONTANA SUFFERS
Reports From Various Portions Of
Treasure State Indicate That Storm
Is General-Washinston Freezes in
Coolest Snap" in Decades-RaiIroa
Work at Standstiil.

WIN the man who said that Missoula
was net TO have any real winter" this
year please stand up and be counted?
| With the mercury staying within a
| few degrees of zero in this city and
many degrees below in other portions
of Montana, the blizzard changed
from storm of wind to one of snow
yesterday. For more than "a hours
the snow fell and there was a settled
determination about the way the
weather man delivered the goods. The
snowfall was steady and consistent
The flakes were large and from 10
o'clock on Wednesday night until this
| morning there was not a minute when
the fleecy was not doing il best to
get to earth. At o'clock last night
the local weather observatory report-
ed 10 inches of snow had fallen and
at the time The Missoulian went to
press the precipitation still contin-
ued
Shoveling Paths.
Male Mssoula yesterday morning
was confronted with the necessity OF
late arrivals in offices, stores and
shops as a result. The snow shovel
market took n heavy boom, while the
fur cap and wool mitten trade contin-
ued brisk. Jailor Orton had a bunch
Of prisoners out taking care of the
paths in the courthouse yard and there
were many snowplows at work in va
rious residence section
Worst Since 1908.
The present storm is said to be the
worst since November, 1903, and.
should the snow continue, 1t gives
promise of rivaling that of the winter
of 1883, when four feet fell. Yester-
day the temperature was a trifle
the government instrument registered
but few degrees above zero, as the
maximum for the day. The minimum:
was below The wind was from the
south and lacked the biting qualities.
that had characterized the breezes of
the days before. Yesterday, bad as it
was, might have been a great deal
worse.
On the Railroad.
On the railroads the terrific storm
OF yesterday was felt with all its force.
From Helena to Trout Creek. Hamil-
ton and Wallace. reports va re-
ceived ofea snowfall Of from Is inches
to 2 feet inches At Helena two feet
of snow were reported and about the
same at Blossburg. Garrison report
ed about IS inches and the govern
ment figures at Missoula gave 16
inches as the total fall of "a hours.
On the Bitter Root branch the snow
was so deep that it reached the ash
pan on the local freight engine, al
most smothering the fire The train
was taken in on the siding at Flor
ence and remained there until the ar
rival of No. 3s2, which coupled on to
the train and brought them back to
Missoula. The engine was still try
Ing to fight It's way back to this
place at midnight. but was making
little progress.
Deep Snow Everywhere.
AT Lookout total depth of 10 feet
OF snow Is now covering the mountain,
feet inches of that amount having
fallen in the last "a hours. Officials
passing over the Wallace Missoufa
line yesterday report an average depth
Of about IS inches on the level and q
strong wind blowing in many places.
AT Evaro the conditions were much
the same as at Missoula, with little
business moving over the hill Dixon
reports claimed at least two feet OF
snow on the level and Trout Creek
came through with a story of a great
er fall than that.
Temperatures were about the same
as on the previous day, with a slight
upward tendency. Blossburg report
I'D about Is degrees below zero as the
minimum, with Helena and Garrison
closely following. At Missoula the
lowest mark reached by the mercury.
according to government figures, was
below. Hamilton told about the
same story and at Wallace 10 below
was said to be the minimum.
Slow Freight Traffic.
A few freight trains were handled
on the division during the day. but 1t
vas go-as-you- please procession on
both ends. These trains were started
rom the terminals during the early
hours of yesterday morning and moved
With no regard for making time Aft
er noon only one freight train was
started from Missoula, that being No.
"a, with a perishable manifest
Passengers Away Late.
Passenger trains are now so late
hat 1t is almost impossible to keep q
'ecord of their numbers and class. No.
Is came in about five hours late; No.
about the same and No. nearly IL
hours behind schedule, No. dragged
N at 6 o'clock this morning, fully
Eight hours late, with No. following
,lose behind.
On Branches, Too.
Branch trains were all more or less
ate. though they We're not affected as
much as the trains on the main line.
rhe Coeur d'Alene passenger reached
here about hour and Is minutes