The Washington herald., 1913-03-28
ALL Wires down
INFL0OD AREA
Other Parts Of Country from
Atlantic to Utah and South
to Georgia Affected.
CANADA ALSO CUT OFF
Telephone Forms Only Link Between
Stricken Districts and the
Outer World.

New York, March 27.-Never before has
there been such a widespread prostration
OF telegraph and telephone wires as exist
| tonight. There have been many IN
| stances OF isolation OF localities for a
| considerable period. but tonight the tele-
graph and telephone companies are con-
fronted with prostration or facilities
embracing the vast stretch or country
| from the Atlantic coast to Utah, and as
| far south as Tennessee and Georgia, as
result of the succession OF storms em-
bractng every element known in weather,
during the past seven days. Canada, too.
is cut or by biizzards and floods tnat
have done much damage in upper New
York and in lower Canada
Out OF New YORK city tonight teie-
graph facilities, which, under ordinary
circumstances, are ample to reach every
section OF the United States, are confined
OH the west to Cleveland, Ohio, while
southwark. although the wires are work
ing to Jacksonville, a tornado. which
made Itself felt in Virginia this after
noon, Is sweeping up the Atlantic coast
with much prospect OF 1attening before
morning the few remaining wires be-
tween those points and New York. In
the central South. the situation is de-
cidedly uncertain. The wires there. Grip
been repaired. and the inclement weather
is playing havoc with the remaining IA
cilities.
Hard Task Ahead in Ohio.
Owing to the seriousness of the situa-
tion In Ohio. and particularly at Dayton.
the telegraph and telephone compa mics
are putting forth their greatest efforts
in that locality. The Western Union last
night managed to get a gang OF lnemen
and repairmen northward from Cincin-
natl. as far as Arcanum, Ohio. a few
miles south OF Dayton. and although II
Is believed that this body OF workers has
by this time gotten to the outskirts OF
Dayton, no word has been received from
them.
the work of restoring communica ton
will be not only difficult but an almost
unending task. The miles of poles that
were washed away must first be replaced
before the wires can be strung. After
this will come the task OF practically
establishing a new office. SO It will be
perhaps two days. with all conditions
favorable, before the outside world will
be fully acquainted with the extent OF
the disaster. and the thousands Of anxi-
Gus persons waiting for some word from
relatives will learn the fate OF loved
ones
IN layton the western Union has six
operators. Two of these are now in the
office of the National Cash Register
Company. three miles from the center
of the city. and the others are at Wolf
Creek. ready for work when the wires
are restored.
Telephone communication is possible
with Dayton. but that is ALL The latest
and most reliable information out Of the
stricken city Is coming from Phoneton,
five miles from Dayton. where the Ameri- |
can Telegraph and Telephone Company |
has a large station.
Both the Western Union and Postal !
in New York announced today |
that they did not have a wire working |
IN the thousands OF square miles roughly |
marked by Pittsburg on the east, Cleve- |
land at the north. and the Ohio River
on the south.
indianapolis has been cut OF for two
lays: communication with Columbus was ,
ost about noon. and Cincinnati and
Louisville are reached only by one wire
zach and these are being used for i'm
0ortant messages concerning the flood
situation and instructions for relief
An army OF 1000 men is ready to re-
'tore the wires whenever the flooded
conditions will permit of work, and this
I Is strongly hoped from reports re-
,eived tonight wilisbe tomorrow morning |