The first real snowstorm of the season in Williamsport and vicinity, which reached blizzard proportions, connected up with the city about 5:45 o’clock this morning. It at first looked like a light snow, but as the morning wore on it was seen that the downfall was likely to prove one of the old fashioned kind, and would probably make a day of it.

Although the storm was general over the Central Pennsylvania Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, there was no trouble in moving trains.

The storm has proved a godsend for the unemployed in Williamsport and this section of the state, as the Pennsylvania Railroad is getting a great many of them to work shoveling snow from the tracks, station platforms and yards. Superintendent H.H. Russell of the Williamsport Division secured 50 men through L.J. Fisk of the state employment bureau.

The Williamsport Passenger Railway Company experienced the most trouble with the storm in Williamsport and its suburbs, although the big electric plow was run over the system at early hour, and made frequent trips through the rest of the day, it was “hard sledding” for the trolleys. At 11 o’clock there were three trolleys off the track—one at Third and Pine Streets, one at Fourth and Pine, and one out at in the Vallamont district. During the day cars were derailed, causing a tie-up each time. One car this morning consumed an hour from the hospital to Market Square. The ordinary time is about 15 minutes.

Dealers in rubbers did a “land office” business this morning and some of them sold out their stocks in no time. It was hard to supply the demand.

Superintendent George H. Harris of the highway bureau put a large force of men to work about noon. The men were put to work clearing the crossings in an effort to keep them passable.