The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-08-24
White Covering on Mountains and Rain in
Valleys Cause Of General Rejoicing in Mon
tana-==StOrm Extends Over One Hundred
Square Miles-==Iire Conditions Improve

Missoula. Mont, Aug. 24,-Conli-
tlons in the burning forest districts
in western Montana continue TO i'm
prove
Mother nature has come TO the res
cue and has spread a covering of
srow over the mountains and n
steady rain over the valleys Scat
tcrinS reports today show that the
storm has extended over an area OF
one hundred square miles and that
every one Interested in the fight
against the flames is exceedingly re-
joiced
Refugees Coming In.
Refugees continue 10 come In at
Different points and it is thought that
Ip the end many reported 10 have
been burned 10 death are unharmed.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget
Sound officials have started four
trains TO tho fire district on the Bit
tel Root mountains and these trains
viii be used TO replace camps. sup
ply them and rebuild such poruoDo
OF the road as have been destroyed.
The trains are amply laden With pro-
visions and material supplies TO car
Ty on the repair and relief work for
some days and before the end of the
week the track between the level
country and the Bitter Root sumpis
should be In fair condition for opera
tion
In report rendered to the local
officials OF the Puget Sound line
Chief Engineer Pearson said, Avery.
the terminal reported destroyed last
Sunday. was intact, and had suffered
no fire damage save for bungalow
belonging to man named Kelley
0cross the river from the town. The
railroad company has established
permanent wire communication be-
tween Missoula. and Haugan and line
men are rapidly covering the burned
district west. Tonight should find 4
complete wire still farther up the
hill.
Northern Pacific Repairing.
The Northern Pacific Is also carry
ing out an elaborate programme for
the repairing OF its damaged line be-
tween st Regis and Wallace. Last
night train of material was started
from Missoula and Is now at the De
bcrgia bridge which Will be repaired
today
Other material trains are being
made ready and will be sent from
here as required Pile drivers are
on hand and the work will be rushed.
Speaking of the condition west oil
Saltez. a local Northern Pacific OFF,
cIal last night said the exact amount
o. damage to the track and company
line equipme sewtnto
line equipment west OF Saltcz could
rot he estimated until experts had
been over the damaged line. The "S'
bridge. q structure several hundred
feet long must be replaced before
traffic can be resumed as there Is no
chance to construct "ShoGhy
track around that structure. The
Carbon Hill bridge will be difficult 10
reconstruct
Big Supply Of Foodstuffs.
Chief Dispatcher Wilkins of the
Puget Sound railway reports that all
the refugees who found shelter In the
ST. Paul pass tunnel have left and
are thought 20 be rebuilding their
homes In the mountains. There are
three dead engines on the summit
/ which cannot be moved for some
deys TO come. There is, however. u
( lig supply of foodstuffs cached In
various places In the hills which will
be available while the forces In
charge OF the railroad companies
property are isolated, In the ST.
Paul pass there is also an ample sup
] ply OF spring water.
Rain Falling Copiously.
II At II o'clock today rain was re-
ported falling coplously In Paradise
the farthest western point reached
by the local officials of the Northern
Pacific Saltez and st. Rcgis send
similar reports. Latest reports indi-
cate the storm is continuing Sup
ervisor Kinney of the Missoula ma
! tional forest has received word from
more OF the ranger stations In his
district saying the storm is general
He has sent out word to all rang
ers to keep the fire lighters at their
! posts