Evening journal., 1915-04-03
NORTHEAST BLIZZARD GRIPS
DELAWARE, CUTTING OFF LOWER
COUNTIES; FRUIT CROP IN PERIL
Wind RACES at Fifty Miles an Hour in Rural Sections
With Binding Snow as Accompaniment; Wire
Service Interrupted, But Traffic
Moves Steadily
FISHERMEN NEARLY FROZEN ON THE
RIVER; BRIGHT EASTER PROMISED

severe than in Wilmington, for it was
accompanied at times by high north
wind that interfered with traffic and
ravaged telegraph and telephone
wires. The wind reached 80 miles an
hour at the Breakwater at Lewes.
The railway companies in Whining
ton were maintaining their usual
schedules early this afternoon. but
had rolled out their snow plows and
sweepers TO keep the tracks clear and
the railroad companies also had made
emergency preparations for combat
ing the snow, which was drifting, be-
cause of the high wind that had pre-
vailed since midnight in southern
Delaware and down the Maryland di-
vision
Fears for the Crops.
Fears are entertained for crops in
rural Delaware, but fruit growers today
said they did not expect much damage
unless the snow should be followed by
freeze. As yet peaches and apples have
not advanced far enough TO suffer much
damage from the storm, some growers
said today. but they feared the effect of
a hard freezing spell on the tender
shoots of the trees should il come after
the snow storm.
Berries and smaller fruits are in peril
because of the blizzard, and the outcome
of the storm will he awaited with anx-
iety by the growers Of lower New Cas-
tie, Kent and Sussex counties. The
thermometer in lower New Castle county
was registering at the freezing point at
noon today, brit the temperature of
lower Delaware could not be secured be-
cause Of an interruption in telegraphic
and telephone service.
Wire Service Interrupted.
The Postal Telegraph Company stat
ed at noon that II still was In touch
with lower Delaware but further south
and particularly through Virginia,
the service was stopped The West
ern Union Company reported service
with lower Delaware interrupted at
times, but TO Baltimore, Washington
and through Virginia the service had
been stopped because of the storm.
Both telegraph companies stated that
the storm was unusually severe
throughout Virginia.
The Diamond state Telephone Com
pany, through Manager Bardo. stated
that service with lower Delaware.
~ y
land and to Atlantic City was inter-
rupted by the storm. In fact, com
.munication with seaports and the
south was uncertain by telegraph or
telephone early this afternoon. The
high wind and the clinging snow had
weighted down and broken wires. and
forces of linemen were rushed out TO
try to restore the service.
! IL
The records at the City Registry
Bureau at noon today showed the
snow fall TO be three and one-half
inches. it being the first storm re-
ported this late in the year since the
local Weather Bureau was establish
ed. The measuring machine showed
that the snow began falling at 7.3O
o'clock this morning and when It was
measured at noon it showed three and
half inches had fallen. Reports
from the outlying districts at o'clock
were that the snow was drifting along
the roads. At Thirty-fourth and Mar
ket streets the snow was several feet
deep in drifts.
Railroad Wires Down.
II was stated at the French street
station at noon that the Delaware
Railroad wires were in fairly good
shape to Cnvton but below that
practically all Wires are down. There
was no communication at all with the
ID. NJ. and ID. branch.
There was also no wire connection
with the n. Y. p. and n. railroad.
which runs from Delmar to Cape
Charles. II was also stated that all
railroad wires below Washington were
down.
Up to early this afternoon traina
had been greatly delayed by the snow
All trains we're. however, running
five minutes late
The snow interfered very little with
the Easter travel on the railroads. II
was stated by the local ticket agents
= that travel was about as usual and
that they had even sold tickets fol
> Atlantic City. It was said that tine
: rush down the State would not start
5 until this afternoon, and that il would
5 be as heavy as usual unless the road
5 became blocked by the snow.