Evening star., 1918-01-28
IS CRIPPLED
BY BIG SNOWFALL
Cancels Trains West From
Washington and Other
Eastern Terminals.

PHILADELPHIA, January 2S.-Due to
the biggest snowstorm of the winter
the tie-up on the Pennsylvania rail-
road is said by officials of the company
to be the worst from any cause in
years. Trains are stalled all along the
line and outbound service from Phila-
delphia has practically been annulled.
Reports reached headquarters here
that six of the Pennsylvania fast
through trains were stalled in the
mountains. Four are Indefinitely held
up at Altoona. The passengers on these
trains were taken to Altoona hotels.
Another train is stalled near Cal
1itZen, in the Alleghenies, and one near
Cresson, west Of Altoona
Early in the day Pennsylvania of
ficials decided to take no chances and
several trains both ways between New
York and Philadelphia were Cancelled.
Frozen switches and 1ow-hanging
steam and smoke made traffic condi-
tions dangerous and signals could not
be observed. At noon the officials an
nounced that all passenger service from
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington to the west was suspended
until further notice.
This action was taken after word had
been received that trains sent west
ward were held up.
AZ
fcials said, was brought about mainly
by the conditions in Philadelphia and
through the state. 1t was Impossible
to operate out of the big terminus at
pany found it impossible to obtain
sufficient number of workmen to re-
Iieve frozen switches.
Freight Service Entirely Stopped.
NEW YORK, January 2s.-Freight
service in the anthracite regions has
been entirely stopped by the storm, ac
cording to statement today by a. H.
Smith, regional director of railroads
Six to eight inches of snow had fallen
between and 10 am. Although there
is full supply of cars at the mines the
loading is hampered and men are being
sought to clear the tracks
All along the lines of the New York
Central railroad system heavy snow
was falling today, but up to early this
afternoon freight was still reported
moving by officials of the road. Pas
senger trains, however. are arriving
from two to three hours late
READING. Pa, January 2s.-Reading
railway officials were discouraged to-
day when reports reached the office of
Gen. Supt. Keffer that eight to ten
inches more snow covered the ground
along the main line and that indica-
tions pointed to complete tie-up.
Drifting snow was slowly blocking the
interlocking plants and trains were
sticking all along the line. These We're
taken off the main tracks and side
tracked until there is moderation in the
weather.
None but passenger trains were
started out after am. and these were
cut down.
Effect of Storm on Fus1 and Food.
CHICAGO. January 2S.-Light snow fell
in the region during most of last night
and, according to the weather forecast.
another storm is headed in this direction
from the southwest Should the snowfall
be heavy. as the weather bureau predicts.
railway officials fear the movement of
coal and food supplies will again be
seriously harnpered. just as the railroads
had practically recovered from the block
ade caused by the heavy snow of the last
two weeks.
Although about four inches of snow has
fallen since Saturday, the railroads today
put back into service number of trains
which had been annulled, and while many
arrived behind schedule, passenger traffic
was expected to become somewhat normal
before night, provided a further heavy
snowfall does not interfere with train
movements.
Like a Blizzard at Baltimore.
BALTIMORE. Md. January 2s.-A
snowstorm of blizzardlize proportions set
in late last night in this region. seriously
impeding railroad and street railway
operations. The holiday served to reduce
the volume of local street traffic but little,
or nothing was gained by the railroads
through the suspension of industry be-
cause of the interference of the snow with
yard work.
The storm further increased the diffis
which has been seriously affected by
heavy ice for the last six weeks.