New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-01-24
!. NORTHWEST SWEPT
BY FIERCE STORM
MOST TERRIFIC BLIZZARD IN
YEARS STRIKES THIS REC
GloN SUNDAY
RAILWAY TRAFFIC pEMoRALlz-
ED AND COUNTRY ROADS
ARE BLOCKED

n
ARE BLOCKED
New Ulm and in fact the entire North
west suffered the worst storm in MANY
years Saturday night and Sunday.
Old timers are divided in opinion as
to When there was one that tied up
traffic so seriously and housed the in
habitants of this city so thoroE as
that which ragged here during all day
Sunday. The government weather
bureau here has no instruments for re-
cording the velocity of the wind. There
was 42-mile gale blowing at Minnea-
polls, and it is pretty safe to say that it
was as strong or stronger here. The
weather bureau in the Mill City is autho-
rlty for the statement that it was the
worst experienced there since the bureau
was established forty years ago. How
ever, according to old residents, this
vicinity has been visited by severe
billiards. in-the past that did not reach
the Twin Cities at all.
Not Very Cold
The storm started here about $50
Saturday evening, the snow and wind
gaining in volume and velocity during
the night and all day Sunday. There
was much less suffering than would have
been the case but for the fact that the
weather did become extremely cold
until the wind had died down and the
snow ceased falling. The lowest point
at which the mercury touched Sunday
was degrees above zero, and it went
as high as Is degrees above during the
day. It was different, though, Mon
day morning, when the thermometer
registered at 81 degrees below.
! he most serious result Of the storm
in this vicinity was the decentralization
OF railway traffic. There was no mail
received here from the Twin Cities from
Saturday night until Monday afternoon
at 5 o'clock, when the west bound pas
senger train arrived. A train made up
at Mankato arrived Sunday evening.
but it brought but little mail and none
from the Twin Cities, all Omaha traffic
between Mankato and St. Paul having
been tied up in huge snow drift in
the vicinity Of Merriam station, about
SIX miles south Of Shakopee. The
Northwestern train going west, arriving
here Sunday afternoon did not get away
until shortly after o'clock Monday
afternoon. All east-bound traffic on
the Northwestern was from TWENTY
four to thirty-six hours late.
M. & S. L. Trains Tied Up.
Minneapolis & st. Louis tram due to
leave here at 5:15 Monday morning
made no attempt to leave until 1890
in the afternoon. when it pulled out be
hind snow pillow driven by two engines.
The north-bound passenger ON that
road from Storm Lake, Iowa, to the Twin
Cities, due here at 1909 p. M, was two
and one-half hours late, while the south
bound train due at 1925 p. M. did not
leave st. Paul until o'c'o.k in the
afternoon, and did not reach New Ulm
until late Monday evening.
Passenger traffic on none Of the roads
has YET reached normal, and all freight
traffic is still in a demoralized condition,
and will likely continue SO for several
days.
One shipper said: with the shor-
tage Of cars, it has long been bad enough,
but you can but family imagine what it
will be for some time to come. The roads
are now working their utmost to get.
their main lines opened, but with all the
side tracks showed under conditions
must be doubly worse for some time to
come.
81 It Is estimated that at least seven
teen inches Of snow fell during the storm.
Country Ro.ds Blocked
Country roads in this vicinity were
almost impossible al Of Monday, and
but few farmers ventured into town
Those Who did declared that conditions
were the worst in many years. Alex.
Russell, the well-known farmer residing
about eight miles up the river toward
Fort Ridgely, who was here during the
afternOnn said. "a
In all Of my forty-ysars experience
with snow and winters in this vicinity, I
/ have never had SO much trouble in reach
ling New Ulm as / had today Monday.
1 have never seen SO many snow slides