The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-03-25
HEAVY SNOW
FALL CRIPPLES
LIGHT PLANT


Canon City and the upper Arkansas
Valley was visited Thursday night by
the heaviest snowstorm of the winter
and much damage was done to the wires
and overhead construction of the Ar
kansas Valley Railway, Light and
Power Company and the Mountain
States Telegraph and Telephone Com
pany. The moist, adhesive character
of the snow clung to the wires until
they were unable to support the weight
upon them and gave way under the
strain; in many cases pulling the poles
to which they were attached down with
them.
The power plant was early put out of
commission by falling poles and by
midnight was unable to transmit '-juice"
over any of its circuits: the arc, incan-
descent and power wires all having
been put out of operation. The tele-
phone service was also badly.paralyzed,
bat was able tomaintain communication
between Central and some parties
of the community. The long distance
wires to Denver, Colorado Springs, the
Cripple Greek district, Westcliffe and
points south and west were all dead
this morning and it is impossible to
state at this time when they will be re-
stored and service re-estabiished. al
though repairs will be made as soon as
the condition of the weather. permits.
In several instances the cable lines
of telephone company were dragged
down by the burden sof snow adhering
to them and their restoration will af-
ford strenuous employment to its elec-
tricians and other employees One
Pueblo wire was intact this morning,
but two others gave way under the
storm and are temporarily out Of busi-
ness. The Western Union lines are
working but the telegraph service of
the Denver & Rio Grande Railway COM
pany was badly crippled and partially
responded to the demands made upon
them this morning.
Poles supporting the electric light
wires at the corner Of Sixth street and
Rudd avenue and at the corner of
Eighth street and Greenwood avenue
fell with crash about 11:30 o'clock
and gave residents in the vicinity q fine
exhibition of pyrotechnics as the result
of multitude Of short circuits made
by the tumble Of power carrying lines.
The lights sputtered, hissed. fiared and
illuminated in fascinating, but terri
flying manner. keeping spectators at a
respectable distance and reminding
them of miniature inferno.
The snow began falling shortly after
dark and at o'clock was coming down
in chunks that fast changed the appear
ance of the landscape from lifeless
brown to an interminable vista of spot
less white. The extreme dampness Of
the snow caused it to cling to every
thing it touched and trees and shrubs
were soon bending down under its
weight, Transforming them into an al
most unnatural beauty. Had the storm
not abated during the night the damage
to property would have been serious
and an embargo would have been placed
today on travel by rail, as well as along
the country roads.
The Daily Record suffered-common
with other establishments using electric
power in the operation of its machinery
and has been compelled to resort to
hand composition to get out the regular
edition: requisition being made upon
the type of the Fremont County Leader
for that purpose. Just how soon the
power company will be able to supply
electrical energy for the use of its pa
irons we are unable to say, but itprom-
ises as speedy restoration as possible
under the circumstances.
Florence and the coal camps, as we'll
as its customers in Cripple Creek and
Victor, have been noless Handicapped
today in their business operations than
those Of Canon City by the shut down
Of the power plant here and are solicit
tous for the establishment of its
current.
Although the snowfall appears to