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Show THE BLOCKADE. ITS LOCATION AND CONTINUANCE. CONTINU-ANCE. WHAT T lit U. F. COMPANY HAVE I bhKS ASU Allfal OOIAU. lutcreallug aud Detailed Account. O'if'KN, Feb. Hth, H72. TUB Hll.ST CLUCK ADE. The firt blockade on the Union Pacitie this season nccurred on the 12th of UctJ-T, near li-iwdns, and since that time, there has been a succession of -nuw and wind storms of (treat vio-I Itnec. The ftreatc-t di-pth of falling; -now the line of the road across the mountains wa.- fifty-four inches, but the detention of trains has been caused by dril'tinK, and nut by lading snow. Three winti-rs au'O a blockade occurred, which histed twenty-one days. ThLs( was before any snow-sheds or ennw- j fences had been built. j SUKPS AND t'EN'Ki. 1 Durini.' the fullowii)" year snow-1 sheds and snowd'onces were erected, at localities where the road had been ob- strueted, and at other points where those persons best ae uainied with the j country and its mctcorolocy thought it desirable for the thorough protection of the road. Summit culs were shed-ded, shed-ded, and at various places from one lo tour lines uf enow-fence were erected on tho north-west side of the road, from which direction enow storms invariably in-variably came. This protection appeared ap-peared to be ample. During the two winters! nest succeeding, although snow storms were numerous there was no blockade, and but very slight detention de-tention of trains. THE STORMS THIS SKASXi.V. Alter tho first blockade this season, the three succeeding snow storms came from precisely the opposite direction, and against these storms the fences afforded af-forded no protection. However, an effort was then made to erect fences on the opposite tide of the roadaud every available resource of .the company wan used to procure material for that purpose pur-pose in -the shortest possible time. Large gangs of workmen were employed employ-ed tiiclit. and dav in the construction of the fences at Omaha, which, when made in sufficient cuantities, were sent to the proper localities for erection, by special trains, and preferenco was given to theso and to coal trains over all other trains. THE SECOND BLOCKADE. In November tho second serious blockade occurred, tho fences having been found insufficient to arrest drifting drift-ing snow, and an effort was made to open the road and keep it open by the use of snow plows, of which the company com-pany had thirteen, that had proved to be etlicieut during the past two winters. win-ters. Three heavy engines were coupled coupl-ed behind. The result of this attempt was, that twenty-five engines were disabled dis-abled within one week, by being thrown from tho track, and materially injured. DENSITY 01' THE DKUTS. The drifted snow proved to bo so dense that it was impossible to force a plow through or into it, until after the cut was trenched at intervals of eight or ten feet down the rails. It then became be-came evident that manual labor must bo provided to clear the track, aud with ail possible dispatch seven snow trains were littcd out with accommodations accommoda-tions on each for feeding and sleeping seventy-five men, and with two weeks supply of provisions. This force was set to work in addition to the ordinary number of employees, and it has been i only by the aid of these snow trains, s followed by plows, that the company have been enabled to send trains over the road. ! UN USUALLY SEVERE WINTER. ! llanchmen who havo lived in the I mountains for the last twenty-five , years say that nothing liko the present ' winter has occurred in that time, considering con-sidering cither tho depth of snow, the i duration of intense cold, or the violence I and frequency of storms. For such a .'winter tho road is not prepared; but J I after an examination of the situation, it is the opinion of Mr. Sickles ' that the road can during tho nest season j i be prepared to transport trains promptly prompt-ly during any future winter of even greater severity than the present, at an expense considerably less than the amount the company have lost durinc the last thrco months from the interruption inter-ruption of travel and increased expenditures. expen-ditures. One difficulty has been that the road passes through a region destitute of supplies una 01 jauor, ana wneu obstructions ob-structions occurred both these were required re-quired to be transported over long distances. dis-tances. By long continued working and from the intense cold, the men in somo cases became disheartened and refused to work. In numerous cases they had frozen limbs and were disabled. dis-abled. THE COMPANY'S INTENTIONS. Until the weather changes and these storms cease, it is the intention to run trains over the road proceeded by a snow train and plow, and also with a train of provisions and coal sufficient for a thirty days supply. By this means (rains will get through in from ten to fifteen days, depending of course on the frequency and violence of the storms. No trains will be sent out without this supply; and although passengers will necessarily experience the annoyance of detention, it is intended in-tended that these supplies of fuel and provisions shall bo aople for any emergency. emer-gency. THE SXOW-EOUND PASSENGERS. Statements having been made in the papers to the effect that passengers j have suffered from want of provisions, ! Mr. Sickles has carefully examined ; facts and linds that these statements I were uufuuuded. There has been no i suffering from want of provUions, nor i will there be any by the passencers on the U. P. road. TRCSENT CONDDlUN Of TilK ROAD. The road is now open from Omaha to Laramie, a distance of 572 miles, and from Yash3kie to Ogden, a distance dis-tance of 273 miles. The obstructions i are between Laramie and Washakie, ; embracing the divide of the continent, being 17i) miles. There are now seven west bound passenger trains detained at Creston, fifteen miles distant from the western boundary of the blockade, and there are two cat bound passenger passen-ger trains at Green Kivcr, waiting un-til un-til the west bound trains shall pa.-s the. , blockade. At various points along ; ; the road there are about naI west .bound pi-seners, and about 4i.H . ears of freight west bound, with i about 250 eat bound passengers :U Green river and Oden and about 1 cars of freight bound ea.-t. ! The passenger train which left Oden . nn the 1Mb ultimo, left Laramie on! Monday moniini:. aad the prospects are good to have the trains now at, Crc-ton leave by Friday afternoon. ' " 'T i. a consummation devoutly be be ' wL-hedV' C. |