Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-04
A TOUCH OF WINTER.
The Thermometer Reaches the Lowest
Point Yet This Winter.
STREETS AND CARS DESERTED.
But Very Little Complaint as to the Supply
of Natural Gas.
PROBABILITIES OF THE NEAR FUTURE

The old saying, that "as the days lengthen
the cold strengthens" is being verified un-
mistakably. The lengthening process has
been appreciable for several days to the
most casual observer, but the other feature
has forced recognition from all in the last
few days. Tire mercury reached its lowest
point this winter yesterday morning, show
ing 15o above zero at the Signal Office, on
Fifth avenue, and so above in the open
country of the suburbs where the al tifcial
heat of buildings did not temper the air.
During the day the temperature moder-
ated considerably, but in the afternoon it
began to grow colder, and late last night
the indications were that before daylight
this morning it would be colder than yes
terday. To-day, the weather sharps say, it
will get clear and warmer. and the warmth
will increase until another cold wave comes
along. Yesterdays frigid weather was bad
for the street car companies. All suffered
alike, there being few passengers on any of
the lines.
The Downtown Streets Deserted.
The downtown streets wore deserted ap-
pearance during the greater part of the
day, and the few people who were out all
seemed to nave some place to go, and were
getting there as quickly as pos
sible. The plumbers and coal dealers
smiled pleasantly in anticipation of to-
days business. There were few COM
plants of shortage of natural gas in the hill
district among patrons of the Peoples
Company, but the Manufacturers and Phil
adelphia Companies customers seemed to
have all they could use.
The snow fall amounted to little over
an inch in Pittsburg. Up the Allegheny
river there was two inches and in the
mountains considerably more. In the
lower part of the city most Of the snow
melted as soon as it fell, but there was
enough remaining to make the sidewalks
decidedly slippery On the hill the walks
were in such bad condition that on some
streets pedestrians made their way along
the middle of the road. Away from the
business portion of the city the snow was
more noticeable and for the first time this
season the ground was well covered
Sergeant Stewart, of the Weather
Bureau, received yesterday copy Of Chief
Harrington's weather crop report for De-
cember, covering the entire country. In
reviewing the month the Chief says the
weather was warmer than usual for De-
cember throughout all districts east of the
Rockies
Warmer Than the Average.
The mean temperature was 90 higher
than the average. Only two cold waves of
marked extent occurred, the first on the 9TH
and sth. carrying frosts and freezing
weather as far south as Northern Florida.
The second, from the 25th to 9th, covered
the entire country east of the Rockies, but
was of brief duration. The rainfall was
heavier than usual in nearly every section
of the country excepting the southern lake
region and the Ohio Valley.
Although the month closed with no snow
on the ground in the wheat region the cold
wave now prevailing in this district was at
tended by general rain. turning to snow,
from Tennessee to the lakes. There is an
abundance of moisture in the winter wheat
region, but owing to the drought at plant
ing time, and the consequent undeveloped
state of the plant, the outcome of the crop
depends largely on the future weather con-
ditions. The abnormaliy high temperature
during the month has doubtless improved
the condition of the crop, but it is not in
state to resist severe winter unless pro-
tected by snow.