Evening star., 1922-01-11
FALLEN WIRES LIE.
.MWANt OF STORM,
Snow and Wind Play HaNee
/ With Telephone Lines.
: Much Local Damage.

Practically all circuits Of the tele-
phone service between here and Chi
csgo were put out of commission, by
the snow and wind storm that swept
the middle western states. gradually
lessenings in severity in itss eastern
swing. it was stated at the headquar-
ters of the local telephone offices to-
day. The storm has wrecked. all but
two circuits between Washington and
Pittsburgh. Pa. considerably delay
stances for more than an hour.
Western and northern Maryland 10
also badly affected by the Storm. 1t
being reported that hundreds OF telec
phone poles are down and $io00ee
damage done to the wires., Very cold;
weather Ia being experienced in this
section,- with the result that the rain.
and snow on the wires sahaEe froxens
causing. them to break under the
heavy weight.
rarily delayed between this city and
Baltimore, but not due to thu storm.
1t was reported that plumber near
Baltimore in driving, a pipe in one
Of the roadways pierced a cable. This
has not yet been fixed. bnt will not
take long when work. upon 1t is,
started.
Weather Impedes Repairs.
Workmen are already busy, in the
various sections attempting. to repair
the damage done and fix up temporary
communication. Their work Is greatly
impeded by the weather.
Western Union suffered the loss OF
several wires between here and New
York city on account Of the high
winds. Wires running west were
down and communications between
here and Cumberland, Nd, were cut
off directly, but indirectly communi-
cations were maintained. western
Union officials said the service in all
directions is being handled in good
condition, despite the storm.
! officials of the Postal Telegraph
Company here stated that direct COM
by wire with New York
city. Philadelphia, Boston and other
cities of the north has been cut of
since about noon today. Repairmen
reconnect service as soon as. possible.
1t was asserted.
E Telegram service to the above cities
is being maintained. however, to q
limited extent by rerouting the mes
sages south and doubling back over q
wide circuit, it was explained. Ap>
parently the storm mas not done much
to wires south of Washing
ton, as service is uninterrupted In
that direction.
G. Melvin Sharpe. vice president Of
the Potomac Rubber Company. this
of business, in. the Bond building, at
New York avenue and, 14th street
holding the door to prevent the wind
from blowing it open.
incidentally he was watching the
pranks the wind was playing on the
outside. He had counted Ave UNI
brellas wrecked by the wind. and then
he say mans hat blow from his
head. Two other mon and several
women were similarly treated.
He counted six. seven and then there
was terrific crash. One Of the big
avenue side Of, the building had been
loosened by. the wind: and smashed.
Large pieces Of the high priced glAssy
fell to the pavement, narrowly misc.
ing a woman who was fighting her
way through the northeastern
small quantity OF it finding its. way to
the lower floor, but not doing much
damage.
Crossing Police SufRer.
Members, of. the. police force, on,
street duty this morning had much
difficulty covering" their beats and
the signal boxes in time to-
telephone the stations. In several In.
stances. It is stated. crossing police.
men fOund II necessary 10 seek Drle1
respites from their unprotected sta
tions.
Police of the several precincts re-
ported that many trees were damaged
by the storm. Dead limbs also were
broken from many trees and i'm Sow
eral instances the police reported
that dangerous obstrnottonR were
caused.
At the harbor precinct this after
noon 1T was said there had heeni no
report of trouble or damagei on the
river. Lieut.. Dean had, his squad in
readiness for emergency work In
event of storm damage or human life
being; endangered on the water Most
of the smaller boats are tied up for
the winter at places where they are,
fully protected from the STORM, the
police stated. a.