The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-26
The Snow Storm Was General
Over the Southwest.
Traffic Conditions in Kansas
City Worst in Years.
WIND BLEW so MILES AN HOUR
Drifts Are Piled Three or Four
Feet High.
All Business at a StandstiII at
st. Joseph, Mo.

Storm conditions today extended from
the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic
coast. with rain and thunder storms
in the south and a heavy fall of wet
snow north of the Ohio river. The
storm was central over southern nii-
nois and was moving eastward.
heavy snowstorm is raging
throughout the lower lake region and
Ohio valley. More than three inches of
snow has fallen in many sections and
the fall continues. Both railroad an
telegraph companies are experiencing
great difficulties as result of the
storm. Wire conditions universally are
bad.
1t is predicted by forecasters that
the fall will continue throughout -he
day and tomorrow will be clear and
colder. Extreme cold weather is not
expected in any part of the storm belt
Kansas City. Feb. 26.-Covered by
six inches to two feet of heavy sodden
snow the southwest today faced the
worst traffic conditions of the winter
Despite efforts of yesterday afternoon
and last night to clear tracks and re-
pair wires practically no trains from
the west were running on schedule
and telegraph service from many
points was cut off. Traffic conditions
years. Ten inches of snow in the
streets was so heavy difficulty was ex-
perienced in making passage even
with power snow plOWs. Several small
fires which started in residence dis
tricts during the night were subdued
by volunteer fighters because the fire
department could not make progress
: through the streets. For hours tele-
graph connections on every road to
the Union depot We're broken and lost
trains were in order. Hotels usually
crowded Sunday nights were almost
deserted.
Today a small army Of men under
the personal supervision of the street
commissioner set to work clearing the
streets. A special call was issued for
500 men and 100 teams
Because of demoralized car service
most of the churches were deserted
last night. Deep drifts on sidewalks
made it practically impossible even for
pedestrians to get about Large dis
tricts of the city We're without light
because of the breaking of electric
wires. Telephone circuits were de-
Stroyed.
At the office of the general mana
ger of the Rock island railway it was
said the storm in Colorado, New Mexi-
the line ever had experienced. The
snow in western Kansas was accom-
panied by a so mile wind.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, Mis-
SQUIRT Pacific and Union Pacific schedules |
in the southwest also are demoraIzed.
Blizzard in Iowa.
Des Moines, Feb. 26.-Train service 1
and traffic generally in Iowa is at a
standstill today. as the result of the |
worst blizzard in many years. which /
swept over the state last night. 1t is /
still showing heavily and the drifts /
are piled three and four feet, with I
prospects of being much worse before I
the day is over.
The blizzard started in the southern /
part of the state and worked its way /
northward. Low temperatures are re- |
ported in all sections The officials of /
the local Rock Island railroad office !
announced early today that all efforts /
to operate freight trains on the Iowa /
division of the road had been aban- |
doned and that every incoming train /
was many hours behind schedule.
The two fast passenger trains on /
the Rock Island from Denver were /
blockaded at Council Bluffs last night /
for several hours. Train No. west /
bound also was held up at Council /
Bluffs, the operators not attempting to |
run it through to Lincoln. Only few
street cars were operated in Des /
Moines during the night and all the .
Several cars were stalled in drifts in
suburbs for hours.
'''Fhe worst storm of the year" was
the statement of railroad dispatchers |
when asked at an early hour today
how trains were running. The North !
western, the Milwaukee and the south
ern lines of the Burlington were re
ported blocked by the storm.