The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-23
TRAINS WERE
HOURS LATE
And Wires Were Tang ! by
the Fierce Bill :
Zard =
ABOUT Foo + SNOW
FELL D. 3 ING NIGHT
Holiday Traffic in People
and Packages Serious
ly Handicapped

Old Winter took fling at some of the
false prophets last night and this morn
ing some OF the predictions anent an
open winter with little snow and "A mini
mum wind were entombed under drifts
measuring anywhere from three to ten
feet in depth II was a bold wind and
northcr when ii began to fan the heavy
snow that fell in the afternoon yester-
day. After dark it shifted gears and fin
ished the distance on the high speed.
Snow continued to fall and at dawn to-
day there was covering somewhere
around IL inches through. With such
gusto did Boreas sweep around corners
and across fats that it was well nigh i'm
possible to use the measuring rod on
segment of snow that hadn't been dis
turbed by the old fellows spree. To-day
the gale continued to wreak its vengeance
on Christmas mails, passenger trains ana
all manner of other utilities.
The weather mans forecast mentioned
something about colder and quieter, but
the great silence hadn't arrived early this
afternoon nor had some of the trains,
which are being delayed by the same
wind that fcolder and quieter" are ex-
pected to supersede. Fire alarm wires,
electric light wires and telephone INES
were indiscriminately whaled and swat
ted for offering even their little resist
ance to the progress OF the storm. Early
last evening a power wire sawed It's way
through the fire alarm system on Granite
street and at 20 minutes of the big
whistle at the gas plant doomed forth
single, solemn note of protest. AT the
fire station the tower bell changed vocifer-
ouslv for few moments and there may
have been those who thought the alarms
sounded for fire. Men from the station
were soon at the scene of trouble and
with them working through the early
part Of the night were linemen from the
local office of the Consolidated Lighting
Co. The lighting and telephone folks had
repairmen abroad most OF the night and
as MANY wires were down in the hinter-
lands their work for the day was wen
mapped out for them at dawn
AT the offices of the Vermont Tel "
Tel. Co. as well as at the Consolidated, 10
was said that snow on the wires ana the
high wind had sent many wires TO the
ground outside Travellers toward the
city found hardships ahead OF them when
they struck out to-day. A butcher from
Fast Montpelier told of shoveling his
way through mile of snowdrlfts ana
similar tales drifted in from all direc-
tions as the forenoon wore on. Two
travellers set out from Orange heights
last evening, gave up the trip as hope
less task, and waited for the morning
They got through to-day but not WITH
ont many attendant difficulties. In some
sections the snow and wind blotted OUT
all traces of the highway and the friend
" fence posts along the road.
Railroad men were looking for trouble
to-day and they found it. ). H. l.. Carr
local agent for the Central Vermont roau'
said that his company, with Tour ne"
suowplows and big locomotives added 10
the passenger and freight service since
last winter. were in a fine way to COMBAT
tho elements this winter, although ne
conceded that the new equipment would
be given a thorough test In the present
circumstances, The early morning tram
from the south. due around O'CLOCK
l;mned in at 8 and was later, even, than
the late afternoon and early evening
trains of Yesterday. Trainmen were not
Guaranteeing the timely arrival OF ex-
pected passengers or packages ana every,
hodv in the vicinity of two stations had
resigned all hope OF seeing any trans
arrive on time to-day or tonight.
The usually punctilious Green Noun
+a;p express from Boston did not disap-
noint its admirers this morning, as 1t
was overdue only few moments. ne
crew, however, was willing to admit that
some pretty huge drifts were enc >untered
and tho locomotive and tender bore am
ple evidence of a sturdy conflict with the
snow.
Here in the city the Barre 4 Montpe-
lier Traction & Power Co.'S nteruroan
service was abnormal last night ana
through a part of the forenoon. The
sweeper was used effectively. Street de-
nartment employees were abroad early
hut not too early, and many OF the side
streets were clogged for hours after day,
light. Much of the work accomplished
by the plowmen, it may be said was uh-
done by the wind.