Evening star., 1948-01-02
Ice Sheath Stretches
From Texas Border
To New England
BY the Associated Pres.

This winters most damaging
storm laid treacherous sheath of
ice and snow from the Oklahoma
Texas border to New England to-
day, dealing stiff blow to COM
munications, travel and essential
city services.
Hundreds of communities across
the Northern half of the country
were without electric power or tele-
phone service. Trains were running
generally behind schedule, airplanes
were grounded in several areas and
highway travel moved at a snail's
pace.
Damage will run well into the
millions, on the basis of preliminary
estimates.
The storm started as rain, turned
to sleet and was followed by snow
The West got the brunt of the
storms fury on New Years eve,
with the Midwest feeling it on New
Years Day. The storm center moved
into New England today.
More Snow Expected.
AS heavy ice storm fastened
it's grip on the snoW-harried East.
forecaSters warned high winds and
more snow would strike before
nightfall. s-
The pelting sleet and snow
brought New England its third
severe storm in 10 days. Forecast
ers predicted a snowfall of 8 to IL
inches by midnight. Some places
already were covered by earlier
SHOWS ranging up to feet.
The storm started as a series
Of tornadoes, ripped through five
southern States and added to the
death toll The Dixie twisters
killed II. s.sss zt, ss.s - Z. q.
More than so persons died In
ttraf1c accidents over the holiday
period. The tornadoes which twisted
through Louisiana, Arkansas, Ten
nessee, Mississippi and Alabama in
jured $50, destroyed 240 homes and
damaged $50 others.
Freezing Rain Continues.
The. freezing rain and snow, which
yesterday centered near the Chicago
area, continued today in many parts
of the storm belt. The Weather
Bureau said the freezing rains today
extended over narrow band from
Lower Michigan across Lake Erie
to Southern New England. Snow
was expected to follow.
Snow continued to fall in parts
of Illinois and Indiana and in Ohio
and Pennsylvania. There was about
10 inches Of new snow on the ground
at Milwaukee and from 6 to 10I
inches throughout Lower Michigan.
The fall in Northern Illinois, South
eastern Iowa and parts of Missouri
measured from 4 to 6 inches.
Temperatures In the Midwest,
which yesterday hit a low of Is
below in Minnesota, moderated
throughout the day and no sub
zero marks were reported early to-
day.
Transportation Is Crippled.
Reports from the snow and ice
storm areas were similar in con-
nection with the crippling effect on
transportation, communications and
property damage.
Trafhc-rail, highway and air
was disrupted and in some COM
munities paralyzed. Sleet and freez-
ing rain covering electric wires cut
of telephone and light service.
StreetcarS in many cities were
halted and radios were silenced due
to mechanical difficulties and
wrecked towers.
Scores on communities in several
States were isolated from telephone
communication as the icy gales
snapped lines. Highways in many
Midwest areas were impossible.
Trains and busses operated far be-
hind schedule and all airline flights
in and out of Chicago and other
Midwest cities were Cancelled.
Radio Towers Wrecked.
The strong winds-gusts reached
as high as so miles an hour in some
parts of the storm belt-wrecked
radio towers in Chicago and broke |
store windows and uprooted trees
in many communities. Nine trans
mitter towers toppled and three
others were damaged in and near |
Chicago. Mechanical difficulties |
interrupted broadcasts on many of
the major stations.
Some streets were flooded in |
Philadelphia as rain fell throughout
Pennsylvania. Sleet was reported
in the northeastern section of the
State and Easton and allentown
reported power line failures.
Miss LiqhtIe Appointed |