The New York herald., 1869-12-07
THE STORM.
The First Heavy Snow Of the SeasOn-City
Travel Interupted-FaiIure Of.City Rail
rOads-Want Of an Underground Line
Scenes and Incidents-What the Peo-
ple Say-The Storm in Brooklyn
Strike Of the "TOw Boys"


culations OF time tables by starters" con.
duclors and drivers, bring curses both low
and deep TO the lips OF hackmen and
many pedestrians, paving many rod Of the road
to the slower regions" and making the bengnant
heart Of Mr.. Henry Bergn ache with pains and s0r-
rows on beholding he poor horses suffering as they
tried to haul the heavily loaded cars and carts
over the slippery ground and through heaps OF hall
frozen slushy mud. On such days even sensible
men growl while trying to make the best OF the IN
convenience which nature occasionally inflicts on
poor humanity, as II she intended G for reminder
that though man has made many of the forces oi
nature tributary to his will and his intellectual
power. he is still unable to control the weather.
But as the hours OF the afternoon wore on and the
day grew into evening the atmospheric surround
ings became worse and worse. The weather was no
longer the Ola pod,fda Of everything dlsagreeabe,
but 1t had settled-if the term be allowed-into a
regular snow storm, with heavy nor'wester blow
ing Its bleak blasts" without intermission whirlng
the snowy flakes through the air and heaping them
up in unpleasant proximity TO the railroad track,
covering the rails ana impeding travel to an extent
had not been experienced for many years past 80
early in the season.
"a tremendous snow Storm" said one, standing
on the sidewalk near the HERALD Building while
waiting .or q car.
'Fearrul sir," replied bystander
'UmphI" said third. "Quite unexpected for the
season."
'Its December, SIR" chimed in fourth; "De
cember. sir. Nothing unusual, Sir. ought to be
prepared for 1t, sir These city railway companies
moment gigantic SNOWFALL which boy was aim
ing at another but, missing his targ et had struck
the speaker, sealed his mouth completely.
"Wnat blessing an underground railway would
be In such weather." began again the first, and all
around him exclaimed their assent except the tar
get for the stray SNOWFALL.
ground railroads wouldn't help it, sir; ugh p,-the
brat had mud In the snow-"wouldn't help It, sir;
speaker was interrupted ahurried pedestrian passing
by with his umbrella all spread out and closely to his
ae s
in the face and came very near knocking him over.
He Kept his balance, however, and trod of as
quickly as his legs could bear and The storm would
allow him, and that was the last seen or heard Of
him.
But the remark made Of the deslrability Of an un-
derground railroad through the whole length OF the
city was repeated by many last evening. The short
comings Of the city railroad companies so APP
parent that they We're freely canvassed. Here Is q
City in which at least 15O 600 people are dependent
daily 10r conveyance home from the place OF their
daily employment on these city cars. But careful only
OF their own profits ana fearful OF any extraordinary
expense, these companies not only lessen the num-
Der OF cars they run just at time when more aiA
needed but at the first sign OF increasing difficulties
they even stop running altogether Take the Eighth
Avenue Company as an example, which, next to the
Third avenue line, shows the largest return Of re-
cepS and the largest percentage or profits. 1t
stopped running last evening before any of the
other companies had Withdrawn their cars. The
Fourth Fourth avenue cars soon followed suit the
only at long Intervals, and finally gave 1t up also.
The Sixth avenue made show for some hours, but
1t also succumbed. The Crosstown aud Belt Rail-
way cars were very soon nowhere, aud only the
Third avenue line made partially successful attempt
to keep It's track open. Large gangs OF men were
stationed at numerous points along the line with
brooms. Snowploughs were put to work. drawn by
steam ana horses, and every available means was
employed to Keep the line clear OF the drifting
snow.
Under these circumstances 1T was not unreason-
able Tor the people generally to wish for some more
convenient and reliable mode Of communication be-
tween the different portions oil the city. This wish.
generally concentrated in the hone that the proposed
tan Island, might no longer be mere project, but
may assume the realities OF an accomplished
fact. Its advantages were freely canvassed and 1t
was particularly referred to that such road would
prove itself removed from the influence OF storms,
and hence available at all times.
The scene In front OF the HERALD building Just
about the time when stores and factories close down
town. between fve and six O'Clock in the evening,
were huddled together between the point OF the
Park and Ann street, Of which but few were on the
track. They were standing In EACH others way,
filled with people, ana TO their platforms and rail-
tngs hung on hundi eds anxious to get away and
have start at least. for home. Near Beekman
street, against the curb on Park row. was observed
leaning Third avenue car, perfectly uncon-
sci0us OF the improper position 1t occupied
and careless or the feelings OF the fifty or seventy
know that there were TO horses hiched to the car.
The curve on the line around the corner OF Ann
trouble SO long the Blocker street cars continued
to run. Between the hours named no less than 5000
people had at one time or another assembled here,
all eager TO get up town.. but few OF whom
could gain admittance to stray car as 1t made its
appearance, after long interval. And what with
the shouts and curses Of drivers calls OF starters
a
jingle OF bells and the cries OF sweepers, OF omnibus
drivers, OF hackmen the loud complaints or those
whistling OF the wind-this was indeed, sight just
at this particular locality seldom seen and not soon
forgotten.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE cITY
AT five O'Clock exactly when 100000 persons down
town were moving and preparing to move up and
broke up dozen lines OF street car travel The
soads sn% rom seemed on % dcwn sy eEtS
came the most binding volumes OF line,
granuated snow drops that ever were seen. Gusts
OF wind accompanied and swept them like giant
at intervals high into the air and the tops Of
houses All these who were in anywse well pro-
vded for the occasion with heavy clothes and tnlck
rosy hue OF health to the cheek, Illuminated the
tips OF the ears and lent papitating glow to the
human proboscis. There wasn't much exultation,
however, among those who had to walk three or four
miles home before they got their suppers, especially
In, 1ne a % Were gea 70 keep warm
The whirlng racing, flying snow was glorious in its
strong and vigorous rush, On Broadway, so binding
was the storm it was difficult to see twenty yards
ahead, The snow occasionally as the wind grew
peter tempered looked like the spray OF a water
f nae and into n9n pas aS %asn I parcss se
came as fine ana hard as duca snet ..,I,IE ana
peppered pedestrians faces most unmeru, ~
an immense number OF young and delicate girls had
TO ,adye nve last evening or wait for hours In the
blocked 81 cara wnere the cold was regularly en-
cased ana played the deuce with tempers ana appe-
tiles. When almost all the lines ceased running
the stages on sun hs.a out anu me drivers
vest OF stamps. All along the line OF
Eighth avenue the most ludlcrous scenes were
started into existence by this playful and risky
snow storm. Cars ceased TO carry, and the means
OF locomotion with which nature provides the
animal biped had to be put into active use.
the drivers seemed delighted with the condition
OF affairs, but the conductors were cross and
crazy. Here and there lot OF drivers got together
and kept themselves warm with red hot jokes, anu
for common comfort and hilarity the cars that got