The Glasgow courier., 1916-02-04
NORTH TOWNS
SUFFER In COLD
Coal Famine Threatens Towns
on 500 in Sheridan County.
DRIFTS PREVENT TRAFFIC
Outlook, Dooley and Scobey Unable to
Get CoaHColdest Spell of
Weather on Record

1ectS OF the longest spell OF cola
weather in its history. Trains on all
lines have been delayed by heavy
SHOWS and the extreme cold and both
passenger and freight traffic has
been practically at standstill, de-
spite the efforts of the railroads to
alleviate the conditions. A coal FAM
inc has threatened several towns in
this part of the state, and there are
towns in northern Sheridan county
that have been without train service
and coal for the last two weeks, de-
spite the best efforts of the railroads
to get trains through. The supply of
coal in the city is very low at pres
ent and the few cars that have ar
rived the last few days have been dis
tributed where most needed. The
Great Northern has sold half dozen
cars of coal in the city to offset the
shortage, but unless conditions ad-
just themselves to near normal, real
fuel famine is threatened.
Officials of the Great Northern
say that the railroad is making earn
est efforts to deliver coal and sup
plies to the towns and communities
in Northern Montana, but not day
passes but what the railroad commits
sion is appealed to.
Reports from Plentywood state
that snow is two or three feet deep
on the level and it has drifted, COW
ering fences and landmarks, making
travel difficult and fatalities possible.
The Scobey branch was completely
cut off from train service three days
last week, with the exception of a
snowplow outfit that went out with
two cars of company coal to be di-
vided among the different towns.
Range cattle and sheep are likely to
starve as heavy snow covers the grass
too deep and many owners were not
prepared for extra feeding.
Reports from the 500 Line, eight
miles north of Plentywood, indicate
; that their condition is somewhat more
imperiling. The railroad has been un-
dergoing severe hardships and diff
culties in their attempt to reach the
end of the line. Engines on the snow
plows have been put in the ditch try
ing to get through drifted cut. One
wrecker was put out of working or
der while trying to put locomotive
on the track. After few days de-
lay they managed to reach Raymond.
1t is doubtful whether they will get
much further, and quite certain they
will not reach Whitehall. The Ranous
cut, SO feet deep, is east of White
tail and is packed to the top with
snow.
The situation at Scobey is very
serious, and repeated requests have
been made by the city authorities to
bring aid to the town. Speaking of
conditions there the Scobey Sentinel
says:
"Scobey as we'll as all of the rest
of the towns in this part of Montana,
is at present in the grip of one of
the most wintry spells that has visit
ed this section for several years. The
fall of snow has been exceedingly
heavy and the fall of the mercury has
been equally as great. The past week
has been a record breaker for this
sort of weather. Since about ten
days ago we. have seen almost one
continual blizzard Of binding snow
and wind.
! The towns on the 500 line northeast
Of here have been without trains since
the sixth day of January. They are
we are informed, without coal, and
their food supply is almost exhausted
Scobey and all the towns on this line
are now without coal and the situa-
tion is becoming grave. The snow
is so deep and drifted that it is al
most impossible for the teams to get
to and from the Ignite mines north
of here, and at other points. If il
proves impossible for the road to be
opened enough to get the coal through
the business men and citizens in gen
eral will be called upon to make 4
trip to the Ignite mine."
FARMER HAS NARROW ESCAPE
I w. Romig, homesteader on the
reservation, residing 20 miles nortl
of Nashua, narrowly escaped deatl
by freezing last week, while return
ing to his home from Nashua.