New-York tribune., 1919-02-17
Open Winter Marks
Northwest Record:
Farmers Worried
Cattle Are Feeding Where
the Ground Usually Is
Deep with Snow; Duluth
Harbor Free from Ice

MINNEAPOLIS. Feb. 16.-"Thc open
winter of 19lS-19" will live in the
weather history of the country north
and west from Chicago and will be
talked of for many year to come by
the oidtimers then alive. Not for
forty years has there been a condition
such as maintained throughout Jan
uary and that which ushered in Febru-
airy. Cattle feeding on old bunch grass
Montana, where normally there is deep
snow at this time; Duluth Superior
with an open harbor and Lake Superior
ice free are some of the phenomena.
In the lumber woods logging opera
tlons are sadly interfered with and
fall predictions as to the size of the
seasons lumber cut will have to be
materially cut down. The snow blan-
ket became thing of shrcds and
patches by mid-January and at this
writing exists only in pale spots in the
deeper cuts and lower places. North
ern Minnesota lakes are still ice coy
cred, especially up close to the Cana
dian boundary, but where the ice a
year ago at this time was two feet
thick 1t now is two inches thick and
too mushy to be safe.
Buffalo coats and sealskin caps, ordi-
narlly common to the streets Of Min
neapolis and st. Paul, are now seen
only on the persons of visitors from
the remoter West, who have them with
them not because they are needed but
because they were afraid to take
chance on sudden change while
east"
Spring" Has Arrived
Lilac bushes and the SNOWFALL"
bush, which always are among the
first to come into bloom in spring, are
10 be found budding III some places
where they are on the south sides of
houses and in wind shelter, and spirea
buds also are to be found in sheltered
places in the city parks Altogether
1t has been not only January thaw
but total disappearance Of winter.
mat winter may come back again
even before this finds publication is
possible, but even SO, the long, warm
winter period will stand as new
record since records began to be kept
officially in this part of the country
Some economic considerations Of
more serious nature attach to it.
Rivers and streams are likely to be
very low in spring time and there is
already moisture deficiency for the
compared with the year preceding or
with normal. To what extent this may
affect the spring wheat and other crops
Is a question. If ample spring rains
come no great harm will have been
done, but the old-timer out here al
ways wants to see d regular old fash
toned winter, it being theory, at least.
that such winter means big crops
to follow
Many saving features appear. Rail
road operation never has been easier
and winter cost of keeping roadbed
open is nothing at all, while big train
loads can be hauled with ease, as
against steam difficulty and locomo-
tive "freezing' which operating Off
Gals have to contend with in sub-zero
temperatures.
1t is said that in 1879, or there
abouts, the old-timers being a little
hazy as to the exact year, there was
winter just like this and the wheat
crop of the year following was
bumper. At that time there was little
wheat raised here outside of Southern
Minnesota, as there was but little set
tement west of a permanent agricult-
ural nature.