The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-14
Service on Central Vermont
and Montpelier & Wells
River Far Off Schedule
BARRE SHUT OFF
FOR MANY HOT )
Traction Company &C Sine
Open in Fairly fSd
Season -

| Winter came into its own to-day with
a snowfall that delivered this middle
aged December into the grip of the frost
king. Snow and a northwesterly wind
created blockade, which, if short lived,
was just as effective for the time being
as any bottling movement yet attempted
by the British and American navies,
Railroads, steam and traction, struggled
under heavy burden of snow, and traf
fc ON all other highways suffered as
much. From 2:30 a. M. until nearly 9
o'clock Barre was wilderness so far as
the friendly toot of train whistle was
concerned and it was nearly midforenoon
before commuters had their choice be-
tween the steam and traction roads. City
streets and sidewalks were congested,
and the street department labored will
ingly enough, but not always to its de-
sired end in clearing roads and walks.
With what came in daylight to COM
plement the fall during the night, lay
er of new snow nearly foot thick car
peted the landscape at noon. Except for
contact through the telephones and by
telegraph, Barre was practically isolated
from the outside world. albeit open tray-
ell to Montpelier was resumed before
noon. Word came in the morning that
north and southbound trains were stalled,
and when the branch train headed into
a binding storm on its return trip to
Montpelier Junction at 2:25 this morn
ing, it made its last regular trip for sew
eral hours. Outbound travellers were
at the Junction, and when the
train, having picked its way back to
Barre near o'clock, again set out, pas
sengers were not sure of getting any
where before afternoon. Conditions had
later in the day. a
On the Montpelier & Wells River rail-
road no successful attempt to resume
service was made until after
J o'clock. A mixed train with two loco
motives attached reached Barre at l0:40
o'clock BY that time snowplows were
n use and officials of the road expressed
confidence that the interurban service
would be normal before night. Quarry
rain crews cooled their heels in the local
Yard and their first journey to Milestone
ill this afternoon was not made until
he snowplow had preceded the freighter.
1t the quarries all hands were turned to
rain crews and section hands. No
reight was moved to-day.
In city thoroughfares the street de-
'artment made an energetic II somewhat
attempt to have the, streets
assable before the hour when most peo-
lie were setting out for their places of
mplovment A heavy wind drove the
now before it in the early hours of the
Al ,f bo ,,1nxt- xroo
ttepded Iby many obstacles. For some
ime the only sure mode of travelling to
Iontpelier was over the traction road,
nd had il not been for the continued use
{ the big trolley sweeper, even the trac-
ion company would have been helpless.
Train service on the main line of the
entral Vermont railway was badly I'M
aired by the storm. The southbound
ight sleeper was, practically speaking,
4 time, getting away from Montpelier
lnetion but little late. However, It
st time climbing Roxbury mountain, so
lat it met the northbound sleeper at
raintree. instead of Randolph. The
lrthbound train took the siding and
as showed in until about $3.50 o'clock
is morning. Two feet of snow was re
lrted at that place ana hoAouIy. ihe
ain left Braintree and without aid was
lie to get to Montpelier Junction about
O'Clock.
The southbound morning mail train
IS almost two hours late in leaving st
bans. snow pillow was ahead of IT so
at IA block" had to be used in opera
IN of the two trains station being
pit between them.
The Barre branch passenger train had
me trouble in making its trips. The
ssing track at Montpelier Junction was
,cked, there being about l50 cars in the
rd because crews had TO 'tie up there
: one cause and another, which inter
ed with the movement of trains.
The Montpelier & Wells River railroad
Irted its snowplow ahead of the morn
: mail train out of Montpelier so that
! latter reached Wells River about II
lock. 1t had some trouble in getting
av from the Central Vermont station
Montpelier because of the storm.
The Boston & Msine trains were all
v late. The Boston paper train had
!. left Concord, n. H., at 10 o'clock.