Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1918 — WORST OF ALL BLIZZARDS STRIKES; MERCURY AT 31 BELOW [ARTICLE]

WORST OF ALL BLIZZARDS STRIKES; MERCURY AT 31 BELOW

Entire country suffers as greatest, blizzard sweeps across United States bringing practically* all lines of industry to a standstill. Rensselaer sbut of from outside world when telegraph and telephone wires give Way before storm’s fury and drifting snow makes railroad right-of-ways impassable. Rensselaer snow bound when drifts reach depth of several feet.

Coal Situation Good Coal supply in Rensselaer at present time is good and there is no fear felt along that line. . No, immediate relief promised by-weather bureau. A blizzard rivaling the one which held the entire country in its grip in 1883, swept out of the Rockies and across the Middle Western states Friday afternoon and sweeping on to the Atlantic coast. Practically the entire United States is in the grip of storm and meagre reports, which some way ha - e managed to reach here, state lhav even the southern part of the country has been hit by the icy blasts. Jacksonville, Fla., is said to have beep visited with snow and many other southern cities are Experiencing zero weather for the first time in their history. Practically all lines of the country’s industries have been brought to a standstill. Train crews are making heroic efforts to put the trains through but with what success has not been ascertained. Telephone and telegraph wires have given way before the onslaught of the elements, leaving the various sections of the country in ignorance of each other’s plight. Shortly afjer noon, Friday,.' the mercury slumped rapidly and by the middle of the afternoon a hard, snow, accompanied by a high 'wind, found the streets and sidewalks in Rensselaer in a terrible condition. Pedestrians floundered and dodged about in their attempts to make headway against the storm. By midnight the snow had drifted to a depth of several feet and it was only by wading snow knee-deep in depth that one was able to reach his destination. During the night the wind was very high and added to the discomforture of those who were forced to be outside. No Trains Since Friday. A Monon train has not arrived in Rensselaer since nine o’clock Friday night and Agent Beam does not know whether any attempt is being made to run trains, as he cannot get in communication with any other point along the route. The t tracks are buried in snow and it is extremely doubtful if there will be any service for some time. Train No. 30, which left Chicago at five o’clock Friday arrived in Rensselaer at nine o’clock after being snow bound for a time at Hammond« Plenty of Coal on Hand. County Fuel Administrator Fendig states the city is well supplied

with coal, there* being four cars of soft coal and two cars of hard coal on hand. One team is being used to make deliveries. However, deliveries are being made only in . the greatest cases of emergency. Coal dealers reported to Mr. Fendig that there have been practically no calls for coal and the latter is of the opinion that there will be no suffering along this line. Rensselaer is indeed fortunate in being so well supplied in the way of fuel at this time as other cities are said to be practically destitute of coal of any kind. At Hammond it is said there is much suffering, 100 families reporting that they are entirely without fuel and unable to get any. Hard On Telephone Company. Superintendent Bott, of the telephone company, states that there is no country service. Since the storm of a few days ago, which so greatly impaired the service, Mr. Bott and his assistants have been working stoically endeavoring to put the lines in something like a normal condition, but they have met with reyerse after reverse. No sooner have the wires been repaired than a new storm again destroys them. Mr. Bott stated that a wire > twenty inches in length was found to weigh four pounds. At this rate the forty wires running north of town are called upon to bear six tons of ice and snow between each of the poles. There are 150 poles on the north lines, so the total amount equals 900 tons. In some places the ice on the wires measured 1 3-4 inches in diameter. Mr. Bott estimates that his total loss will amount to several thousands of dollars. Owing to the great risk, insurance companies refuse to insure telephone companies against losses of this kind, consequently the owner; will be forced to bear the loss himself.

Coldest In Years. According to the government ther"mometer at St. Joseph, the mercury sank to 31 degrees below zero during the night, the coldest weather ever known within the recollection of the younger generations. At an early hour this morning the mercury stood at 31 below. Throughout the day there has been but little variation and at no time has the thermometer registered higher than 20 degrees below. Farmers Kept At Home. Throughout the rural districts the farmers are in an even worse condition than those in town. No sort of vehicle is able to make progress on the roads and as a consequence the farmer and nis family are hovering about the fires in their homes, shut off from the world. No Deliveries of Merchandise. The Central Delivery Co. has ceased operations for the time being, and anyone making purchases at the stores will be forced to call for them.

Blizzard To Continue. If the word of the weather man may be accepted, we are in for several days more of the weather we are experiencing .today. No abatement in weather condition is offered for Sunday and the weather bureau states that the present spell is due to last until Tuesday.