The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-24
IN THE SLUSHY CITY.
souy WORDS ABoUT THE FLOATING
POPULATION or RICHMOND.
THE Thaw Has Set i'm and Yesterday Was n
Typical NASTY Day'--The Ice I'm the
River is Breaking Up.

since the recent thaw began I think I
may safely say am addressing myself
N the hcating population Of Richmond.
Brother Noah died some time ago, and
there are no ark contractors in the city.
The consequence was that the folks had
% nmble around in goloshes yesterday.
II was an Establishments typical nasty
s.v." and so far as the slush was con-
ccrncd the pedestrian was in it. lie did
VOL - he got out Of it in less space than
zen squares. for the rivulets ran. the
slider slipped, and every time the dude
,,ok his seat on the pavement the tailor
',ughcd in his sleeve and murmured.
zone more order for trol scrs."
probably for years past there has not
Neen so much mud IN the city. The snow
ngei up on either side Of the streets
melted rapidly. and in many places NINA
tlre creeks flowed down the curbings
and between the car tracks When one
attenpted 10 cross the street he found
himself between Scylla on the one side
and Charybdis on the other. There was
very little economy in stepping from a
soft slush into a puddle Of water. IL is
month OF August. and all the cry was
water" but many of he inhabitants
(eel very much like Columbus the day be-
fore land was sighted. In the ruts OF the
car tracks are small freshets. and on
most Of the streets are numbtrlcss pools
Of water, some Of them several inches
deep.
Al O'Clock yesterday tho mercury reg
istertd forty-seven degrees above zero,
along
more briskly than the average Broad
street car.
The ice in the river is beginning to
break up, and skating is thing OF the
past. No merry party composed or the
beauty and chivalry Of the city are seen
gliding over the glass-like lake. but a soit'
slushy substance very much Ike thaWlhs
ice cream has taken he place or IN,
Glossy surface. Sleighing. too, is out OF
date. The prOsaic coal carts have taken
the place Of the musical sleigh bells, and
many Of the city carts are busily engaged
i'm removing the mud and packed sno"
from the streets. That recent howl apou
"a scarcity of water has now assumed the
shane Of a gentle murmur against vast
ing the LIQUID. and there is no serious
danger Of water famine as yet.
Ii will probably be week at least De
fore the boats can resume operations
told me Yesterday that il the weather con
tinued as warm as yesterday he though
tho steamers would begin making reSu
lar trips by next Monday. In case OF al
fce gorge. however. the outlook VIII as
sumo a different phase
MANY people were seen on the street
Yesterday without wraps, and large par
of the day. which was very comlortaoi
overhead. was the warmest Tor seNeIa
weeks past. $500,
The water pipes were breaking more nu
rnerouslv Yesterday than ever before. INT
festive plumber continues to wink MS ey'
and touch up his patrons Tor anyWhri'
from 81 20 M 10 500 In some places I'M
mines have frozen as far as the middl
Of the street. At one place on floy'
avenue a force Of hands were engaged j
thawing out pipe several feet below IN
surface of the street
Ouite a number OF houses in the cit
arc flooded by reason Of the snow stand
ING on the roofs The snow shOvelers ar
in great demand, and in some Localities
are at a premium.
Pedestrians were again fortunate yes
terday. and so far as could be ascertaihe'
no one was hurt by the falling snow
A. the Union depot ropes were stretche'
around portions Of the building 10 keel
passengers from the pavement beneali
the falling masses.
An old-time. never-failing weathe
"nropb" Of Richmond predicted ran
within twenty-four hours. whether II
calculated accurately or not remains I
be seen. The same "proph" predlcte
that about half-past 10 there would De
vvrestle between the moon ana Nehu
Cor the honor OF lighting up Richmond
The Are an Manchester had gone out an
the city on this side needed little hgh
rom a foreign source. Hence the CON
retition for the honor. But Venus Is
bowling astronomical belle, and unil'
most bellies. she is raph. and gets
norton on herself" in the race. Luil
,ried very hard TO distance the star
watched the race 10 the three-quarte
post and at that point venus was d
80, winner. I couldn't ascertain no.
they came in at the finish.