The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22
THE WEATHER MAN.
"A TALK AB0UT THE SNOW, THE
SLEIGHIyG AND THE SLUsH.
xhis 10 Said TO 70 Only the january Thsw'
with Another Cold spell Coming-The
Plumbers and she Coal Men.


ing poetic in tramp up and down the
streets when in their present condition.
Here comes a pedestrian down Ninth
street. When between Franklin and Main
there is first q slip. then a slide. and all
OF a sudden the individual finds himself
seated upon a cold and slushy surface.
The weather yesterday was little more
bearable than for days past. About
In the morning the mercury fingered
around the freezing point. but by +. NJ.
II registered 81 degrees above zero Iheh
came the thawing process. the large
banks OF snow on either side the streets
began to melt, and in the centre OF the
streets a slush such as rarely seen III
Richmond was the result In many places
ones feet sunk to the depth OF several
inches Ovorshoes and rubber boots were
in great demand. and navigation without
the former Of these was extremely ulil-
Quit The great piles Of snow which had
been thrown up near the curbstones mace
Il difficult for one to get out OF the street
cars In many places. and most OF the busl-
ness men had their trousers rolled up
10 prevent ruination. Demi-tratns were
not the thing. Ladies found II practicable
70 mislnterpret the style in this respect
and demijohns were more desirable lor
the men than deini- trains for the women.
From the roofs OF many houses about
the CITY men were shoveling snow. and
quite a number Of foot passengers were
struck on the head by portions OF the
falling snow. Fortunately no one was
hurt.
There is very Serious danger OF n freshet
in the river Weather reports from the
bureau in Washington predict fair ana
warmer to-day. II there should be
L., no n
very serious phase. In such an event the
immense amount OF snow collected IN
the vicinity Of Richmond. together with
the quantity OF ice In the river, which is
greater than for years past, will almost
surely produce freshet, ana very
serious one too. The great quantity OF
ice I'm the river has melted very little so
far. Near Twenty-fifth street people are
walking nearly across the river, and
number of festive skaters were luXuriat-
ing on the smooth surface yesterday al
ternoon. II is impossible for the boats
on the James River and Old Dominion
lines 10 resume operations from this point
as yet IL may be quite long time BEFORE
ANYTHING I'm this direction can be accom-
plished. The Old Dominion people are
receiving and sending freight Via west
Point at present.
interviewed the Superintendent OF the
Water Works yesterday, and he said that
~ the water-takers would continue TO be
as careful In regard 10 an unnecessary
consumption in the next few days as they
have been during the past week he did
not seriously fear a water famine
He staed that there were nine feet OF
water in the New reservoir, and he
thought the supply would hold out with
proper precautions on the part OF the
consumers. The water-takers should be
careful not to allow their pipes to run
all night, for there is barely sufficient
supply TO meet the demand at present.
and ~ n warm rain should set In, the
ice gorge breaking up would choke up the
turbir e wheel, and a water famine would
necessarily follow.
But arn't the plumbers having feast?
The slight moderation In the weather
has caused water-pipes to break oy the
wholesale. Nearly every plumber IN tne
city has been overrun with orders during
the past week.
Orders to repair broken pipes have come
IN much faster than they can be "hed
Pipes all over the city are breaking
hourly, and the busy clang OF the
plumbers hammer can be heard In hum
dreds of houses. One plumber told me
thai he could not possibly fill his orders.
He said that he thought at least twelve
hundred pipes in the western portion OF
the city were frozen up, and that ne re-
ceived eighty orders yesterday from
o'clock IN the morning.
Some money in it," I suggested.
well, rather" he replied, with an
air OF satisfaction.
From his general air, concluded THAT
the plumber is in it, and no is evidently
feathering his little nest Tor next sum-
mer when the ice man, who has re-
Gently sunk into insignifcance, Will BIOS
som forth a powerful factor In the imam
cial world.
Sleigh riders were availing themselves
of the last dying remnants of the snow
Yesterday. But sleighing is no novelty
now Everybody has INDUCED In
folly sleigh ride during the past week.
The small boy took his on the sled, the
old gentleman took his on his rect whlle
ambiing down Ninth street, the gay ana
giddy young sport enjoyed his behind
single horse. while span OF spirited
bays stepped briskly TO the music OF
1lnglng bells In front OF the cute coy
and cunning debutante.
Rut the weather will be somewhat
warmer to-day. Quite true, tne ually
weather reports last week saying that the
thermometer would fall so many degrees
were very tantalizng. The situation sot
extremely monotonous AT one uiHe' anu
when the prophet who claims 10 unoer-
stand the mercury's caprices long DeIore
fhev happen predicted warmer weather
to-day many people were extremely
thankful and a member OF the Aipe'Ha'is
Club went so far as TO drink 10 the oiu
''proph's" health. -.
The following is from the New horA
Herald of yesterday: 49,
During the bitter cold on the 10Th IN
slant the Herald said: but we must
shortly look for the January thaW 10
make it's appearance. II only Tor very
few DAYS. and with considerable iess
warmth than il generally br1rss' IL
now looks as II some slight approach 10
a thaw will be realized.
Yesterday the temerature curve, Which
has been for some time dipping beio"
the freezing mark in all sections, rose 10
the neighborhood of forty degrees along
a line stretching from Jacksonville, RIA
10 Vicksburg. thence northwaru 10 OF,
Louis. westn ard through the interior VI
Nebraska. 10 South Dakota and Eastern
Wvoming. from which il again mOFeu
southward. The mercury rose to forty
four degrees Fair at Denver. Slight as
was this recovery OF temperature, II VIII
no welcomed as at least a reminder OF 'he
s,January thaw." which Is experienced
over the United States In ordinary WIN
tiers.
The rise OF temperature observed IN 'ne
West and Southwest yesterday VIII pe
propagated slowly eastward to-day ou.
will not usher In vcrnal weather on the
Atlantic seaboard, or carry the tnerinai
mean much above the freezing point sun
n ts likely there will be a short surcease
of the cold surges with which of late we