The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-13

Despite all the representations Of the
weatherwiss that the present would prove .
mild winter, the threats of Wednesday in the
chilly air and the aspect of the clouds and
the direction Of the wind, were yesterday
fulfilled by snow storm which forebodes
winter Of extraordinary severity. Our
telegraphic weather reports announced that
at nine o'clock yesterday morning 1t was
raining at Richmond, that heavy sleet was
falling at Washington, that snow and rain
were commingled at Wilmington, in Delaware |;
that it was showing at Philadelphia as well as
in New York, that it was cloudy at Boston
and Portland and clear at Port Hood. In
this city the snow was falling lightly at one
o'clock in the morning, with gentle breeze
from the northeast, which increased to gale
by ten o'clock, when the snow fell thick and
fast, seriously impeding travel and bringing
business almost to a standstilL The tracks
OF the city railways were cleared by the aid OF
snow ploughs; four horses and two drivers
were put on each car, and during the greater
part Of the day the cars, although reduced in
NUMBER made their usual time. Stages, hacks
and drays moved with great difficulty, horses
frequently slipping and falling in way the
most distressing to the sensitive Mr.. Bergh.
Pedestrians found the streets difficult to travel,
and several persons were run over, narrowly
escaping with their lives. Scarcely lady was
to be seen on Broadway; indeed an army Of
"street soldiers" would have been invisible
at the distance Of block. The wagons Of
express companies, especially those which
were overloaded, and all heavy teams could
scarcely move. The ferryboats arrived pune
tualy only throughout the earlier part of the
day. All the Sound boats except the Newport
boat were in on tina. The railroad trains
from Philadelphia and elsewhere came in
safely and on time during the early portion Of
the day, but in the evening they were all
delayed. The furious wind that drove the
binding snow through the air and along the
ground spoiled the prospect OF an immediate
sleighing carnival. The ground was left almost
bare in many spots, while in others the snow
was dritted into formidable heaps. We trust
that the police will remind householders and
storekeepers Of their duty to have the snow re-
moved at once from the sidewalks in front of
their premises. This duty often seems to be
especially neglected in front Of government
buildings When shall we reach so high .
degree of civilization as TO have-as the Pa
risans have, for instance, along the Rue de
Rivoli--miles Of covered sidewalks! The
aggregate sum wasted in spoiled umbrellas,
overcoats, overshoes, &C., within q few months
in New York would suffice to build piazzss on
both sides Of Broadway throughout its entire
length.
As we have intimated, many signs, includ-
ing the alleged approach of the Gulf Stream
towards our coast werc relied upon by the
weatberwise as infallIbly predicting that the
winter OF 1S67-68 would be mild. But the
snow storm Of yesterday apparently contra
diets all these signs, and adds its testimony to
that Of the recent hurricanes in the West Indies
in favor of general disturbance and confusion
of the elements Of nature. The sudden advent
Of winter, with all its rigors, cannot fail to
remind the rich, in the midst Of their COM
forts, Of their duties to the poor, who are
exposed to suffering during this inclement
season.