The New York herald., 1879-12-24
What the Initial Snow Storm
Did for New York.
THE HORRORS OF TRAVEL.
Street Car Companies Sailing Their
Tracks from End to End.

their tempers altogether. Nobody would demand
their reasons who has courage enough to go out OF
doors, or strength enough to look out of the win
dow. Snow. slush and mud. and snow and slush.
That is expressing it without adjectives. Yesterday
was the second session Of it. and there i'm
mediate indications of adjournment. Banks of
snow are. doubtless. a handsome adornment for
housctop. and are not unbecoming to public parks
Mud also has its place and purpose, like everything
else in this vale Of tears; but put snow ana mud to-
gether and you have slush-an article for which
there never has been popular demand. and which
only be Of service to shoemakers and physicians
Tho question may be varod to suit the fancy Of the
student without any material difference in the
result. For instance:-One part mud multiplied by
two parts equals slush; or two parts mud into
one part snow also equals slush In New York the
favorite proportion appears to be about part
to ten of mud. judging from the quality OF the
slush she has ON hand.
WE GOT
1t is fine condition of things for city that wants
to go shopping and fix itself up neat for the holi-
days. Though Captain Williams has never been
known to make admission. there cannot be any
doubt about his feelings on the subject of street
cleaning He must be sick OF the job already. and
the clerk of the weather will keep out of his reach If
he knows what is good for him. Just as
the new broom had begun its execution there
came . day or two Of drizzle which softened the
mud nicely and paved the way for the snowfall on
Sunday night. When our simple and confding
population on Monday to find their streets so
white and the fresh they little thought of the
trouble IL indicated. They amused themselves in
chiseling the from their doorsteps and trying to
keep right side up as thcy travelled. But before
night the thaw began; the snow and mud had been
mixed TO the CONSISTENCY ol mortar anu warm rain
or.red a,sastrous,v. Onlv two davs remained he.
- o.-,...... "a -.,.a, ..,,,, .s..a a. -. :.
noa,s ,rha .;- w.s lilo that ., .nri, and :. 20.
snow. the article could only be found in the parks,
and hardly there in an unadulterated state. House
tops were steaming and dripping 80 were sgnboards
aud telegraph poles and horses The out
going citizen hardly knew whether to carry
an umbrella or shotgun. II he had
known the true secret Of "beng jolly
under such circumstances. as Mark Tapiey used to
say he , Wont nave .s m par o. Suits and
the sidewalks quite comfortably. and the canoe
would have come in handy at the crossings.
CLEANING OUT OF THE QUESTION.
pretty programme has been spoiled for those
who included sleigh ride among the festivities Of
their Christmas. Even the streets least in use were
yesterday in as disagreeabe form as dirt and water
could make them. No amount OF sweeping and
Seea possby ey on
large as street cars. But why pile up slush when
1t will run across the street again as soon as your
back Is turned? The proprietors OF stores in the
shopping centres did their best to the
dresses of their lady patrons; but what is u sim
gle broom when opposed to hundred feet
that have just been ankle deep in mud
ut the crossing? Downtown people were more
',s fos a eas %
them wasted any time in dredging 1t would be
hard to say who got the largest share OF nsery-the
men or the horses Those poor. patient slaves were
overburdened. and jerked and whipped and sworn
at more yesterday than they would be in half
dozen days of decent travel To be sure their foot
ing was secure enough when once they reached 1t
through the wretched slush. but their masters were
& anu y was o trsxs, ono sd get an
to go to the noisy precincts OF West broadway.
This thoroughfare Is busy enough and bad enough
ut any time but 1t needed slush to make 1t perfect
pandemonium. At the Chambers street crossing
pedestrians felt much as the children OF Israel did
when they faced the raging waters OF the Red
Sea and Pharaoh making things lively in
their rear. The waves OF snow and mud did not
divide, however, to let them pass. The best they
could hope for was the evetusl arrival OF police
man. who would insure them from being run over.
but not from drowning Inc olue-coated stalwarts
stood in the gap with their great rubber boots and
did they have better opportunity OF protect
ing life and property. Peace was out OF the quos-
tion-they never thought OF preserving that. Above
all this turmoil and dirt stood the darkenng trestles
Of the ''L' rosd-and that suggests something.
When you got home last night. perhaps you found
some curious little spots upon your hat or clothes
cause not stated. II you did. you got q brush and
tried to rub them of. but failed dismally. Then
possibly you tried soap and water and when you
thought them gone and dried your garments by the
fire, those spots again. you reasoned back
upon their origin you remembered having walked
below the structure OF the IL" road and wondering
where all the rain drops came from. Truo enough,
though one would imagine that tho list of COM
piNnts against that corporation was pretty nearly
full. Hero Is new one. however, and lots Of
people testify that 1t is we'll grounded. Those
drops that fall from the tracks and stations would
not be pleasant II they were merely composed of
pure water, but when mixed with grease they arc
particularly objectionable. The grease comes from
the wooden tmbers that all last summer absorbed IL
from passing trains. and now that they are thor
oughy drenched and saturated by melting snow.
the grease steps out and down to ornament tho over
coats and dresses. aud Of course improve the tem-
pers. OF the travelling public. There is no exag-
geraton In all this. Perhaps the water that drips
from the iron columns may be clean enough, but go
further out, under the woodwork. and you will not
require the aid of chemist to prove the adutcraton
In these drops. 1t may be prohtiess to discuss
remedy for this abuse. tho company has its hands
full OF such discussions already put u Is simply
poitan flesh is heir to IN sea seasons IKE the present