The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-07

One Of the SeVereSt rain and Sleet
 storms which has struck this section
 of Connecticut within period of five years has done great damage in this
 city and surrounding towns to trees, telephone and telegraph poles, and overhead wires. In one instance the
 chimney of 9 house in this city is re- ported as blown down. Shipping IS tied up in the harbor with 8, violent sea running outside and though the Connecticut company stated this morning that they had been able to maintain schedules fairly well to out lying points, seven wrecking crews
 had been called to points east and
 north to clear away wreckage caused
 by falling trees and poles which had
 carried the feed wires down with them.
 The storm, continuation of a brief one that came early yesterday morn ing, broke in it's greatest severity af- tr midnight and seemed to increase in violence towards daybreak
 Bridgeport seemed to be. it's center, though owing to the proximity of the sound the water did not freeze as quickly os SIS heavily as it did in the interior.
 As early as six O clock, trolley, teIe- graph and telephone traffic chiefs be- gan to receive reports of falling trees. The first call for the GOnnScI1CuI So4AA- pany wrecker was reported from
 Woodmont at 4:30. Trees, and poles had carried away the wires. A large
 gang was put to work at repair and
 within two hours traffic was eresumed. Two trees falling at East BroadWay and Stratford avenue, Stratford, caused similar conditions, with add1- tional calls coming later from Para disc Green, and Oronoqne on the Der by division
 Superintendent Charles H. Chapman at once ordered out all the emergency
 crews and the work of replacing the ordinary trolley wheels with the sleet- equipped by nine o'clock and the nor
 nal schedules were being kept intact except in a. few instances.
 The Postal and western Union Tele- graph Companies reported much dam age to wilkes outside of the city, stat far reaching. During the morning through wires. to New York, Boston and Chicago were available
 The telephone company during the early morning hours were not so bad ly hit in the city, only having 28 trou- ble calls from local subscribers Up to o'clock Shortly after 10 o'clock, however, in addition to the poles fall Ing in scattered area about the city ten poles were carried away on Housa- tonic avenue near Grand street These poles carried about 70 wires of the teIeDhone company and it is said some electric light cables. A large force of men were at once dispatched to the spot but it will require some time be- fore they can be permanently replac- ed.
 The fire department reported that lines all throughout the city had been torn asunder by the falling of heavy branches from trees, From midnight the wire-men were continually hunt ing trouble and repairing the breaks. At 6:S0 every box was reported to be in order, but throughout the morning stray blows were being struck and the department was kept on the alert.
 The New Haven road officials report ed that the electric service had stood up well under the test, their motor pantographs being sufficiently strong to break the ice from the wires and keen the main lines in operation. Train 275. a. local express due "a Bridgeport at 8:30, was the only train tho officials this morning would admit was at all delayed This was said to be due to a break sticking. The damage was repaired at Bridgeport.
 Harbornaster Paddock reported that many barges were held in the harbor by the storm, the tug Owen J. McWf1- Hams having been locked in since Fri day It was said that the tide yes terday was one of the largest recently experienced, and that today's high water might seek a new mark with a strong wind piling it up against the breakwater and the wall at Sea side park The waves dashing high at these points attaracted much at tention and made picturesque spec tacIe for those who were fortunate enough to get a view of it. High water was about ]: 80 this afternoon.
 A big tree was blown down on State street near West avenue early this morning. falling into the street. Other fallen trees were reported to police headquarters from Harriet and Maple streets, Arctic and William, Arctic near Caroline and Nichols streets and Hough avenue. Bricks were blown from a chimney on a house on Noble avenue near Maple street. No damage was done to the roof.