The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-03-08
Barre Three Days Without
Trolley Service and Two
Days Without Milk
TRAIN PASSENGERS
Gagged UP FOR HOURS
Blizzard Conditions Were
the Worst for a
Generation

be improving with the coming OF clear
weather and the dying down of the
gale of Saturday and Sunday, Vermont,
as well as the northeastern section of
the country, was still struggling to-day
with the great mass of snow which fell
during Friday night and Saturday and
which was piled into towering drifts
by the wind during Saturday night and
Sunday morning.
For three days, or since Friday night,
Barre has been without trolley service
except for a half mile run on Main
street during Saturday; for two days
the city was shut off from railroad
communication with the outside world
because of snow blockades and derail
ments: for similar length of time
there has been practically no mail serv.
ice; during Saturday and Sunday the
delivery of milk was almost completely
suspended because Of the inability Of
the milkmen to reach the city; only
partial piowing out OF the sidewalks
had been completed up to this after
noon special gangs of men had to be
brought into service by the street de
partment in order 10 dig way to
homes where funerals were to be held
this afternoon; pedestrians went to
church yesterday on snowshoes and
skis, while others tIoundered through
the drifts.
Taken altogether, the effects of the
blizzard were the worst experienced in
generation, or since the memorable
blizzard of March II, 1888. In some
particulars, the hardships of that for
mer occasion We're surpassed.
Volunteers to Work on Main Street.
In an effort to get Main street dug
out for traffic and for the passing OF
fire apparatus, etc, volunteer move
ment was started this afternoon under
the sponsorship of the Board of Trade
and under cooperation of the mayor
and city government to remove the
great mass of snow that banked the
sidewalks and extended into the middle
Of the highway. The first volunteers
were business men on Main street, and
il was expected that scores more would,
public spirtedly, join in the concerted
effort, Offering their own muscle and
LHEiI OWL ltdfuN. ShNlt a. tidh AtaihoF iNA
the removal of the snow. BY tomor-
row il was expected that the volunteer
movement would be in full swing and
that the snow would fly off Main street
in manner resembling the operations
on the Panama canal.
Street Department Literally Swamped.
This volunteer service is really need
ed because the street department Is
literally swamped with work and, un-
der the shortage OF men and equip
ment. has not been able to make the
progress that is desired. Street Super
mtendent DeBrune had eight horses
blowing sidewalks Saturday and the
animals were completely played out
because Of the depth of the snow and
its adhesion TO the slush that formed
in Friday nights rain. Ten horses
were put to work Sunday, hitched dou.
Bile. in order to tighten the load; and
il will take two days more to cover the
streets of the city. So it will be read
iy seen that there is great need OF
volunteers on Main street.
In addition 10 the two plows which
were put out OF commission saturday,
three more became broken yesterday
So that they were not fit for service.
The street department found drifts
eight and 10 feet deep on Franklin and
Merchant streets and il was necessary
"a tunnel a route through the compact
masses in order TO permit traffic TO
pass Twelve men Were working on
the streets Yesterday and score
started in this morning.
Some Of these were sent TO tunnel
way To houses where funerals were 10
be held this afternoon; and men were
also diverted to breaking ont upper
Prospect street in order that milkmen
from the west hill might make their
way into the city for the first time
since Friday, in many instances.
No Milk Delivery Sunday.
The milkmen did not come at all on
Sunday. as the travelling conditions
were prohihitive The streets presented
the appearance of an open field with
their unbroken mass OF hard-packed
snow: and the country roads on the
hills were far worse than that, so 1t
would have been utterly foolish for
milkmen to attempt TO make a deliv-
erv of milk that day. There was, in
consequence. a great shortage Of milk
throughout Barre Yesterday, aud to-
day also, as the roads had not been
cleared out in time for them to make
their rounds this morning.
Tho Barre & Montpelier Traction x
Power company had the worst expe-
rienccs of its career Since Friday
night not a ear has moved over the
complete length Of the line; but il was
stated bv officials that they hoped 60
get the traffic running by tonight.
The troubles began in the early hours
of SATURDAY when an attempt was
made to open mp the line with sweeping
cars. A sweeper came TO Barre and
was trailed here by the light Washing
ton street car: but no main line cars
reached the city
Instead. the Washington street car
was left TO keep open the Main street
line from North Barre 70 the City
square. This work the car performed
all Of Saturday afternoon and evening
and into Sunday morning until the Use
Of the street for lines of hose in the
Park theatre FIRE necrssitated the ees-
satiou Of the trips. Then the Washing
ton street car subsidized into its bed OF
snow and ice NJ the corner Of Main and
Elm streets. and there il has been ever
since. waiting the rescue crew from the
car barn
The trolley company got the line into
CONTINUED on eighth PageJ