Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-21
THERE'S NO DUST ON 1T.
ASlump in the Mercury Market Which
-. Startles the Cranks.
LOWEST POINT IN THREE YEARS.
Where the Ball Started and Its Progress
Here With Local Results.
FINE SLEIGHING NAY NOT LAST LONG

A couple of weeks ago the pessimistic
portion of humanity was chasing around
with colds, growing about the weather
being gentle, lsmb-like and full of germs,
exclaiming: ''Why doesn't it get cold?" A
good many of those same individuals can
now be found in bed trying to keep warm.
A scarcity of gas and scarcity of coal and
uncooked meals will drive a man to bed
even in the day time.
Yesterday was the coolest day in Pitts
burg since February "a, 1889, when the
thermometer registered 90 above zero. In
1890 the lowest point was 40, while IN 1891
the minimum figure was 90 above. The lowest
yesterday, according to Sergeant Stewart,
was2o above, while down on the streets the
mercury in several thermometers tried to
hide in the little round bulb at the bot
tom. In the suburbs reports were as low as
100 below zero. Broker John Frost started
the break in Mercury on the Polar Ex-
change at st. Vincent. He hammered it
down to below par and the wave went sail
ing down, aided by stiff winter wind to
Port Huron, thence to Duluth, Cleveland,
Columbus, Indianapolis and as far south as
Cairo. The commodity was ''sale" below
zero at all these points, no one wishing to
touch it.
A Panicky Market Up North.
At Grand Haven, Mich, Chicago and
Pittsburg the market was steady and firm
above par few points. The greatest range
of fluctuations in the weather market was
at White River, Canada, where the feeling
was decidedly panicky. The bears made
raid and sent 'Merk" down 500 below.
The bulls rallied and by continued support
sent the quotation up to u above, all within
Is hours. The scalpers reaped a rich har-
vest. Those who are on the inside predict
that the weather market will be fair and
warmer TO-DAY with steady temperature.
The heavy fall of STOW caused much in
convenience to street passenger traffic, and
much DELAY was occasioned on the cable
lines bv the lev cakes freezing in the slot.
Salt cars were placed on the lines, proving
very effective. and the cars were got into
good running shape in the afternoon. The
snow sweepers on the electric lines were
also brought into good use.
Railway traffic has been interiered with
greatly Almost every through train was
late, and especially the ones coming over
the mountains from the East The snow
fall has been very heavy up on the hills,
much heavier than at any period this year.
If the weather predictions continue to be
warm longer than the Signal Service folks
anticipate, it will occasion thaw and a
great rise in the rivers.
Not Much Fear of a Flood.
No unnecessary alarm need be felt by
people from sensational reports of big floods
coming, as there will be ample time to pre-
pare for an inundation should it come. The
telegraph and telephone wires are all work
ing without trouble.
There's always bright side to cold
winters day when the earth is a sheet of
snow. The sleighs, with the gay. ringing
voices and tinkling chime accompaniment,
smoothly skimming over the shimmering
surface, make up for the trouble brought
about by shortage of gas and other yiccissi- \
tudes The East End avenues and Schen- |
lev Park were full of people out in any, |
thing bearing a semblance to sleigh. Gay |
and festive couples, jolly parties of 'fchap-
pies" owners of fast horses, were all out for
a spin to the nearest roadhouse. But what
an alteration when the daylight comesi
All over the city shortage of gas was the
cry. Scarcely home had enough gas to
keep out the biting cold. This was especl-
ally the case in some portions of the East
End. At Brrshton, on the north side of
Penn avenue, the gas was entirely cut off
from over 400 houses, and there was wild
skirmish for coal