Storm Wrecks Lassen Phones
December 20, 1926
The seven day storm in this vicinity has raised havoc with highways, power lines, telephone wires, radio aerials and in the mountains northwest of here five feet of snow was reported to have fallen. The skies continue to be threatening.
John Gerig, office manager of the Nevada, California, Oregon Telephone and Telegraph Company, stated considerable damage was done to the telephone lines. Every available lineman is working to get the system back in order. It will take several days to make a complete check of the damage and several weeks to completely restore the service.
Power and telegraph service was interrupted only temporarily but frequent winds continue to cause minor damage.
Many radio aerials in Susanville and Westwood collapsed due to the heavy snow which rested on the wires until many of them broke under the strain. The snow fell for five hours, but it was heavy, wet snow and was followed by a rain.
Tourists from all sections reported the highways in bad shape and serviceman pulled out eighteen cars in ten hours while many calls went unanswered due to trouble with telephone lines.
The Humboldt roads are closed to Alturas is open but not in very good condition.
