SNOWSHOE 



5423 



SNUFF 



of great depth and liable to be packed hard by 

 violent winds, the railroads a,re usually cleared 

 by a rotary plow, which consists of a wheel nine 

 feet in diameter and provided with a series of 

 knives or scoops. The wheel is kept revolving 

 by a special engine, which is placed with the 

 plow in front of a locomotive. The scoops 

 feed the snow into a hopper, from which it is 

 blown to a considerable distance by a powerful 

 fan. With a rotary plow the deepest drifts can 

 usually be penetrated. 



Where the snow is not so deep a triangular 

 plow, with its apex in the center of the track, 

 is used. Pushed forward by a locomotive, the 

 triangle forces the snow off the track at each 

 side. The triangular plow is also used for clear- 

 ing roads and sidewalks, but cannot be used in 

 any great depth of snow. 



The clearing of the railroads of the United 

 States and Canada from snow annually costs 

 many thousands of dollars, but so efficient 

 have modern snowplows proved that drifts 

 that would formerly have entirely suspended 

 traffic can now be cut through with compara- 

 tive ease. 



SNOWSHOE, a contrivance to aid in walk- 

 ing on snow, consisting of a light wooden 

 frame, bent in an elongated oval or nearly cir- 

 cular shape, across which is stretched a web 

 made of deerskin thongs, strung much like a 



S e 



PARTS OP A SNOWSHOE 

 (a, a) Frame, or bow; (&) heel filling; (c) 

 center filling; (d) toe stays; (e,e) crossbars; 

 (/,/) lanyard; (#) tail; (h) toe cord; (t) toe 

 hole; (j) toe filling. 



tennis racket (see illustration). Snowshoes pro- 

 vided with supports and holders for the feet, 

 which are protected by moccasins and other 

 wrappings. The principle applied is that of 

 distributing the weight of the body over a wide 

 surface and thus enabling the yielding surface 

 of the snow to support it. Such shoes are used 

 by hunters, trappers, loggers and farmers in 

 countries where the snowfall is deep. 



In addition to these practical uses, in the 

 principal cities and towns of Canada there are 

 clubs founded whose members find them a 

 means of recreation for the long winter eve- 

 nings. The styles of shoes vary according to the 



use to be made of them and the surface fea- 

 tures of the country where used. A nearly round 

 form is known as the Montagnais, or mountain 

 shoe. Long and narrow shoes are known as 

 the Klondyke; there are all forms between the 

 two. The Indian village of Lorette, ten miles 

 from Quebec, is noted for its manufacture of 

 snowshoes, and Hudson Bay Fur Company 

 manufactures them in large quantities for its 

 trappers. They cost from $2.50 for cheap shoes 

 to much higher prices for finer qualities. 



The snowshoe as used in the United States 

 and Canada was originated by the Indians, and 

 the most expert users of them to-day are the 

 half-breed trappers of Eastern Canada. A nov- 

 ice will find it hard to walk even at a slow 

 pace when wearing snowshoes, but expert trap- 

 pers will walk for hours at a rate of five or six 

 miles an hour on a good, hard-surfaced snow, 

 and many will run at a "dogtrot," covering 

 easily thirty-five or forty miles a day. 



In wearing snowshoes care should be taken 

 not to tie the thongs or straps, that fasten the 

 shoe to the foot, too tight. Beginners in the 

 use of snowshoes usually suffer from this cause. 

 The thongs should be crossed over the toes and 

 round the ankles loosely, allowing free play to 

 ankle and instep. On no account should the 

 tightness of the thongs prevent the free rise 

 and fall of the heel. The wearing of snowshoes 

 makes it possible, and easy, to walk across 

 snow-covered areas in which one without them 

 would sink to a depth of five or six feet, a by 

 no means uncommon depth in the woods of 

 Canada. F.ST.A. 



SNUFF, a fine powder made from the stems 

 and- leaves of the tobacco plant, which have 

 been fermented by heat and moisture, then 

 dried and ground. Snuff is inhaled through the 

 nostrils or rubbed on the gums. Various mix- 

 tures of flavors or scents are added to make the 

 powder pleasant for inhaling. Formerly it was 

 considered a matter of etiquette to offer "a 

 pinch of snuff" to friends whom one met, for 

 each person carried a snuffbox. This practice 

 is still prevalent in Southern Europe, and many 

 illusions are made to it in literature. Pope says 

 in the Rape of the Lock 



Sir Plume, of amber snuff box justly vain, 

 And the nice conduct of a clouded cane. 



The habit of taking snuff is very injurious. 

 One of its effects is irritation of the nerves of 

 smell and consequent deterioration of ability 

 to distinguish odors. A user of snuff is de- 

 prived of his best protection against foul air. 

 See SMELL. 



