hell and high water." snow

During every storm, /was piled in trememdous drifts on exposed spats of the tree-lined highway. Since it was out of the question to keep such points clear by shoveling, it became a matter of "taking to the fields," where the gales whipped much of the snow away. The road supervisor, one of whose duties it was to summon yn property owners to report for duty after: each storm, had the authority “to cut any fence that stood: in: the way of an emergency thoroughfare, when the main road was blocked. It was customary to clear a track to a width of six feet or better; to facilitate travel in both directions, turnouts were shoveled to a suitable depth at intervals of a couple of hundred yards. As a safety measure, each driver was required by law to equip his harness with a set of bells capable of being clearly audible at distances of no less than a hundred yards. This regulation was strictly enforced; a violation brought a fine of Ten Dollars for a first offense.

For much of the winter, we traveled to the city by way of the West River ice, or by crossing North River at Dockendorff's, at the end of the Ferry Road. Kach season, some riverside farmer who was thoroughly familiar with .the various springs and other areas where the ice was slow in forming, was given the job of making frequent testa. When he considered the ice safe for travel, he "pushed" a track by planting spruce saplings along the route. Notices in the daily papers kept the public informed of perilous ice conditions, but practically every winter a few persons tried cutting corners to save a few minutes. Though they escaped with their lives, they usually saw their horses and sleighs go to the bottom. On several occasions fatalities occurred when travelers strayed into /rrack left by the ice- breaker as she crossed the harbor on her Charlottetoen to Pictou run.

“Travel by way of the West River ice was saving of time and distance, and

was extensively utilized. Hundreds of sleighs loaded with hay, grain,