The Omaha morning bee., 1924-02-05
'SevenStates
Are Swept
by Storm
Hundreds Of Telegraph and
Telephone Poles Crash
Down Under Weight
of Ice.
Radio Carries Late News

Whipped by a 40-mile gale. ice en-
orusted telephone and telegraph
wires and poles crashed to tho
ground yesterday and practically iso-
lated Omaha from news of the out
side world. Temporary wires strung
permitted of occasional reports OF
current events to filter through.
Universal Service, international
News Service and Associated Press
wires running into The Omaha Bee
office were operated by few hours
out of the last "A. Temporary con-
nections would be made. only 70
break" a few minutes later. Trans
continental wires were rerouted, both
through Canada and the southern
part Of the United States.
Seven States Hit.
The storm covers an area OF seven
middlewestern states. No estimate
could be given by companies as to
the probable extent Of their loss. Re-
ports have been received Of more
than 900 poles down and II IL cer-
tain that many have not been re.
ported.
| Above zero Temperatures are re.
ported over the entire section. Chsy-
enne Is the only city reporting snow.
Eastern radio stations came TO the
relief of the stricken area and news
was broadcast instead Of musical pro-
grams Static was reported as inter
fering With the reports. Receiving
sets we're crowded Is neighbors con
gregated 10 hear the latest bulletins
Of news events.
| Sleef and snow which fell Sunday
night in Omaha under a driving wind
we're blown about the city yesterdaT
in a lowering temperature. Velocity
Of the wind last night was A miles
an hour and the Temperatures had
dropped from IL at . =. m. to q at
Il. Precipitation was .0e ef an inch
Telephone Poles Down.
Northwestern Bell Telephone con-
pany reported that 5s5 poles were
felled during she fury of the gale.
weighted with collected sleet These
poles we're on the uansconinental
line In Nebraska The heaviest dam
age il found between Omaha and Phil
lips. Just east of Grand Island
Reports show 3si poles down on
this line. So poles down between Wa
terloo and Omaha. on the Omaha
Fremont line: "a poles down between
Waterloo and Omaha on the Omaha
| Lincoln lire via Valley. six down near
Fremont on the Frement.Norfoik line;
seven poles down near Fremont on
the Fremont.Ceiumbus line. and -
poles down between Omaha ard Cal
houn Junction on the Omaha Blair
line 10 Sioux City. Ten poles ara
down east OF Bennington.
Two circuits 10 Sioux City were
brought into use Monday afternoon.
II is estimated that it Viii be three
days before the transeonunentsi line
viii be placed in service.
$50 nnemen at Work.
Fourteen crews composed OF about
$50 men are working on the lines IN
Nebraska. Twelve ef the crews are
working on the transcontinental line.
Reports indicate that about IS poles
are down n Iowa.
4 Trains were generally late. Streee
car service which had hSen hampered
picked up somewhat during The day.
Western Union officials reported
fair service Wires wers being
operated between Chicago and Denver
through Omaha. Three inches oe
snow was reported from towns in ths
state
One hundred telephones in Omaha
were out of commission. principally
in the north side section.
Due 10 the havoc wrought hy tia
storm 10 private wires ef Omaha
brokerage offices, no quotations wers
available yesterday on tho stock mar
kef.