The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-08
Farewell to the Snow.

WARM RAIN ON SATURDAY-THE STREETS IN
SORRY CONDITION-FALL OLA AREPORIER =
GENERAL REMARKS. III, u
The streets Saturday night were In as bad
condition as it was possible for the conjunc-
tion of all unfavorable circumstances to
make them. w here the careful householder
had cleared the sidewalk, Of snow thereywas
q thin coating Of. ice as slippery as return
ing board and delusive as the songs Of the
siren. Where, in total defiance of the city or
dinances, and despite the entreaties Of the
police, the snow was left upon the pave
ment, there was slush Of the yilest charac-
ter. 1t dissolved SO quickly when trodden
upon that men often found their heads
where a moment before their heels had
been. The snow banked up in the cutters
prevented the water from running OF freely
and damned the mouths OF culyertS. At
nearly all crossings there were pools from
six to twelve inches in depth.
Another peril to which the pedestrians
were subjected was from the ayalanches
that came down from house-tops. These
were particularly severe on Main street be-
tween Fourteenth and Nineteenth, where
there are many tall, old-fashioned, ridge
rooted houses. The weight of the snow
from one of these was heavy enough to
knock any one down. There were several
narrow escapes and some mishaps.
Creepcrs and oyershoes did but little
good. The enemy had to be met boldly, for
it could not be avoided by those called ont
by business and forced to walk. Umbrellas,
intended to keep off the rain, were more
trouble than they were worth, for hands rs
we'll as feet were frequently required in
cropping along. To get ones shoes filled
In1 lxHrt
when it was followed by fall, mat
tiers began to be serious. How many
are this morning sore over the, thumps
received by them it is impossible to tell.
This writer feels that the natural vigor Of
his right arm has been largely diminished
bv coming in contact with the bricks in
front of the Planters National Bank. When
he uprose from the reclining position he
had involuntarily occupied there his shaggy
overcoat was bedecked with sawdust, and
in the locks of his lovely hair were en-
tWined coal-cinders. Policemen in the
neighborhood who felt the jar Of the re-
portorial carcass coming in contact with
the ground say that at first they thought it
was a mild shock OF earthquake. But it
wasn't.
The poor horses, slipping and sliding
over the rocks, had almost as hard time rs
reporters, policemen, and other such cattle.
II there is any patriotism and enterprise
left in the citizens OF Richmond they will
without q moments delay turn out with
spades, shoYels, hoes, and other agricultu-
raj implements, and SO clear the cutters that
1.-The snow (the beautiful SNOWY will take a
speedy farewell Of us. 1t has been a great
delight, and now has become terrible
nuisance. Enough is as good as feast.
II the thaw continues for two or three
days we may expect the "noble Jeems " to
rise in its might. An ice-gorge in the
neighborhood Of the bridges may be en-
pected, and with it rush of waters such
rs has been rarely seen here. It would be
we'll for all those having property along the
lriver-banks to take such precautions as will
be most likely to save it in case Of trouble
such as is apprehended. The snow in the
mountains is, or was, from fifteen to
eighteen inches deep, and the quantity OF
water it will yield under the influences OF
warm rain will be astonishing to those
who have given the subject no considera.
ton. Timely action may prove highly bene'
| fetal.
The closing of canal and river navigation.
and the impossible condition Of the country
roads, made the prices of nearly all eatables
| take sudden rise. The figures were de-
cidedly high OH Saturday, and, added to the
various other evils from which we suffered.
were quite aggravatirig.
Anyhow, now that the snow is about
gone, Il few words in its praise may be
spoken; enough that is i'll has already been
said. Unhappily we cannot produce from
our drawer (as 1000 editors did in the case
Of Vanderbilt) an obituary already pre-
pared. Our departed friend afford
ed us much pleasure. 1t gave u:
sleighing season such as we dc
not have once in twenty years. II
bestirred the inventive genius OF our ME.
chanics, and caused the streets to be covered
with slcighs of most unique pattern, which
will be handed down as heirlooms. The
beaux and bellies had q period OF bliss
which was worth year Of commonplace
counting. IL they did not improve it they
were unworthy the times and the occasion
So fade the glories but not the memo
res Of the great snow. If it had remained
longer these remarks would have beer
briefer. .....- .