The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-21
THE WEATHER CHANGE.
Disagreeable Developments
by the Gentle Rain.
THE SNOW, THE SLUsH AND THE FILTH
Ice in the Rivers and Sound
Breaking Up.


tinuance, has made this winter long to be re-
membered, and which has stirred up the conser-
vative CITIZEN TO hunt among musty tones and
antique records to ind q precedent which might
plead In Justification OF 1t, has come to end.
Once again gentle Pluvius mas lent his aid to the
Street Cleaning Department, and undertaken the
work OF cleaning our streets and avenues, undis.
mayed at the prospect OF labor compared with
which those OF Hercules were mere chIld's play.
The various theories upon climatic changes which
have engaged the attention Of philosophers and
savants for the past few weeks to an alarming ex-
tent, exciting fears that the Gulf stream, which
from time ImmemOriai has borne upon Its broad
bosom the revivifyng heat OF the tropics onward
toward the hyperborean region, had lost its stad
propriety OF action. and was careering
through the broad expanse OF Old Ocean. no
one might know where; that the earth was
changing its relations to the sum- and that vegea-
ton and the consequent comfort and serenity OF
mankind were to be dismally affected thereby;
that the aurora borealis had somehow been
snatched out OF existence, and so Its genial
effect upon the temperature, whatever It might
be, had come to an untimely end; that 1t would De
found necessary to replant and noursh all the
trees which have been cut down and used for fire.
wood and building houses during the past few
centuries in order that terrestrial absorption and
radiation" might be restored to its pristine equl-
nbrlum-all these and thousand more theories
and representations dire, with which nervous cd
ladies OF both sexes have been affrighted. now
ne permitted to hibernate until the "cOld snap
OF next season again revlves them to rolic and
gibDer through the brains OF the1 inventors.
Meanwhile the average practical citizen awakes
to the discomf0rts resulting from snow and slusn
with which the streets abound and which may be
compared to the fearful horror Of dust and dirt
which the negligent hOusemaid raises when once
aroused to the necessity OF cleaning.
NOTABLE FEATURE
OF the recent cold season has been the bad effect
on the reputation OF an aged ana well known citl.
zen residing In Washington, and generally known
as "Old Probabilities" The predictions OF this
gentleman had come to have an important effect
upon our business and social life, ana the con :
seriousness that he has recently "ost his hold" is
much deplored. He has religiously endeavored to
meet the popular demand by promising warmer
weather, but without the desired effect vi
IDENTITY he had become somewhat demoralized by
his success as yesterday, ike the old weather pre-
dieter in the almanacs, he covered a large extent
Of possibilities by announcing ''warmer weather
and cloudy, with possibly rain or snow" He was
rignt The cold incontnently fed during Friday
night before the area OF low barometer, moving
westward. and in the morning the temperature
resemblea that Of an early spring day wind in the
east. The sun endeavored to break through the
mist when enshrOuded 1t for snort time, but
gave up the struggle early and yielded to a gen.
uine ana persistent rain, which continued through
tne Day For Tue nrst lew mouts VI Tue nornlme
on the surface, and the walks and roadways We're
a glare OF ice, dangerous TO the pedestrian and
the draught ANIMALS compelled to be abroad. The
contest between the frost, intrenched within the
earth, and the warmth Of the falling ram was,
however, OF short duration, and then came the
slush and the mud and the dirt-chOKed up water
courses flooding the streets and crOs5ways and
rendering passage without the ACCOMPANYING
OF wet ieet almost impossible. The slush was
everywhere, filing the street, from which the
moving horses spattered it right and left, in1ct.
ing infinite damage to good clothes and genial
tempers. On the sidewalks, which had not
been free OF snow and Ice for weeks,
anxious pedestrian to move as though walking on
eggs for which he had great respect; on the rub
See coat on a car ana ms
he pulled" malie nant scowl at the waiting pas
scnger; In the parks and In the cutters, IN the
halls and passages, disturbing the prOverbal Sc
renity OF Bridget and bringing forth an expression
OF disgust from her mistress-everywher prcduc-
ing annoyance and discomfort.
"M ell. the MIGRANTS are all loose, or soon will
be,n said an anxious-minded citizen seeking con-
ISOLATION. mo more danger from fires" ana ne
was right. and continuance OF the earnest Efforts
OF the Fire department. to keep the supply of W. ter
available was rendered unnecessary. The poor
man was TAIN to be satisfied with this; 1t constl-
tuted the only gleaI. Of light amid the darkness.
Tue nOn-enlOrcement OF
regarding the Keeping clear OF the cutters added
very materially to the unpleasant condition OF the
streets as me water, thrown o out OF It's usual
rOadways. in many places completely flooding
them ere 1t found It's way to the entrance OF the
sewers. In many cases, loo, these became chOKed
up with composite OF snow and ice and filth,
rendering necessary the immediate attention OF
those in the nelghbOrhood IN order to prevent the
basem ents being flooded
Tne necessities of travel and the neglect or in
competency OF the Street Cleaning Department
hof MOI Af ma nrrAN
streets to be thrown to the cnrbstone, where
with the falling rain, the ice and dirt formed q
to pass: nor was the way made more clear BY the
occasional dilapidated wagon and disused coal
Ssr naa IN he the water
Mood the cellars. report was in circulation
during the day that along South and West streets
the water had Moved back in the sewers and was
flooding the basement stories visit to those
localities, however showed this to be untrue.
Near the loot OF Barclay street. on the west SIDE,
service pipe had BROKEN with the eirect OF fIilnv
the cellar OF one or two buildings from when re-
lays Of men were throwing it out with pals; but
the damage was not serious. In some OF The
worst localities in the city the rain and cOnse-
quent thaw developed indescribabe filth, which II
the coming spring, Is certain to breed epidemic
which Will DO much toward decreasing the surplus
popuation OF the section. The wind continued
rain showed 40 signs OF abatement
SIGNAL OFFICE REPORT.
visit to the Signal ONCE developed the follow
lowing iacis:-The Storm which CAME froE the
Wesr was general covering the whole country.
Rain prevailed generally south OF 10 degrees
north latitude, and north OF that snow. Tue be-
low zero temperature in the Upper Mississippi
Valley had disappeared. The morning reports
showed tnat the storm west oil the Mississippi
River had been followed by clearing weather and
freezing temperature. No nigh winds prevailed.
the rain throughout the south Atlantic states
was exceptionally heavy. ranging from one to
two inches.
THE FERRY CROSSINGS.
The residents OF Brooklyn and Jersey City doing
business In New YORK expressed the hope yester
uay that the nnoy ances experienced In crossing
and recr0ssng the East and North rvers wound
soon cease. Miider weather, accompanied by
rain, was especially welcome 70 this class,
as they knew that the Ice King would
succumb to these influences only. The winter
to such citizens has been particularly disagree
able. Inhabitants older than the majority could
not recall period wherein 80 many difficultles
had been met with In navigating the waters about
the city. Muggy ana rainy days they now pray
for. as dirty" weather win speedily release them