New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-17
A HEAVY MARCH SNOWFALL.
DIsAGREEABLE TRAVELLING ABOUT TIIE
CITY.


THE STORM GENERAL EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
THE PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY.
The snowstcrm that ended yesterday noon
was the heaviest that has visited New-forK 10
more than two years Nearly II inches OF snow
fell in twenty -four hours, and only the absence
of heavy winds prevented much damage to prop
erty and great delay to travel and business.
The storm extended from the Mississippi to the
Atlantic, and was followed last night by heavy
rain. For Eastern New-York and New-England
light rain and snow may be expected to-day,
with clearing weather tonight
The month Of March not only came In like
Iion but almost ever since has been conducting
Itself like an untamable king Of beasts. Just
how much longer 1t will continue 80 to deport
itself not even Mr.. Ddnn OF the local weather
bureau. can cay. but This most disagreeable
month Of the whole round year furnished New
Workers. yesterday and Sunday with the heaviest
snowstorm OF the winter 1t descended almost
without warning, too. for 1t was unheralded by
the prophets on Sunday morning and even
when the flakes began to fall at few minutes
after il o'clock. on the morning OF the day before
yesterday, nobody looked for anything but
furry; but the afternoon passed and the snow
fell thicker and faster the Jingle of sleigh bells
Riverside Drive. and by the time evening set In
the weather folks up in the tower OF the Man.
haitian Life Building had sent out warnings that
a heavy and continuous SNOWMAN was 70 De eX-
pected.
But the average citizen knew nothing OF this
announcement and went to bed secure in the
belief thar when he woke in the morning the sky
would be clear. In this he was disappointed. for
at o'clock yesterday morning 1t was showing
harder than ever. and there was no sign OF
change until just before noon. when the snow
suddenly turned to sleet, from sleet to rain and
the rest OF the day was as unpleasant overhead
and underfoot as such q day can be only In
great city.
LIKE THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
The early hours OF the morning were not 30
bad, for the sight Of the big snowllakes gave
holiday air to the city. but when the rain began
to fall the troubles OF pedestrians began. and the
longer 1t fell the worse became the condition OF
the streets and the more profanity fell from the
lips Of the commuter as he thought dismally OF
the struggle homeward that lay before him when
he should aght from the train at SQuedunk.
u.
In Central Park. in upper Fifth-ave. and along
Riverside Drive sleghs aid sleighing parties
numerous In the morning. and the sport
was quite the best Of the season. but 1t was
short-lived, although many enthusiasts braved
the rain throughout the afternoon in order to
make the most of what might be the last sleigh
ing Of the winter.
TROUBLE FOR HORSECAR LINES.
Traffic on many uptown streets was practically
stopped during the day. Those horsecar lines.
few in number that cross the uptown section
were running far from, schedule, and the usual
two horses were unable to drag the clogged cars.
As result four horses were needed to make any
headway at all. On the Fifth-ave. stage line
the delay was most noticeable. The heavy. lum-
bering coaches made poor headway through the
snow, even though four horses were attached TO
them.
Fifth-ave in itself was a beautiful sight part
Of the day. although the street up until noon
was practically impossible. Then the house.
owners managed to get men 10 clean the walks.
The snow was pushed off into the curbing and
formed a high embankment there. Then the
street-sweepers came along and pushed the
snow back from the street up on TO the pile
already banked dp on the curbing.
Around Madison Square and other much used
places the Street Cleaning Department made
efforts to get the streets in a condition for
traffic The snow was swept up into piles ready
adequate Around the Worth Monument and
other places in the neighborhood there were
great piles Of snow that lowered far above the
heads of the pedestrians. Everybody felt the
delay caused by the inability to get wagons
around as usual. In the hotels and clubs the
supplies for the day were curtailed or delayed.
Merchants uptown were not so sure In proms-
ing to deliver goods dI ing the day as they
usually are while drivers who had returned
from the Harlem district reported that the
streets up there we're so badly clogged that
they were almost impassabl..
ADVERTISEMENTS IN SNOW PILES.
Astute advertising agents took advantage Of
the snow to SET forth the merits Of things to
sell. number ct men and boys. armed with
billboards fastened TO sticks. hurried around
uptown Wherever a huge pile OF snow was
encountered a stop was made. Then the bill
board man would laboriousy make his way to
the top Of the pile. and with the same vigor
that one would plant flag on the top of the
Matterhorn, he drove the stick deep In the
snow and left his signboard staring In the
face of the public.
WARNINGS EFFORTS.
The first thing Colonel waring did in the
morning after he had taken look In
the direction Of the sky was to order Herbert
Tate. the street cleaning contractor. to get
force Of men to work with all haste. Accord
ingly a gang Of 800 men was at once dispatched
to begin the assault upon the blockade OF Broad
way, the Colonels orders being to clear tnat
thoroughfare from the Battery to Forty-secono-
ST. as soon as possible. By o'clock In the aftet'
noon 1900 shovellers were at work. ana SUD-
stantial results Of their labors appeared IN tne
huge heaps Of the enemy that lay by the side OF
Broadway. The crosswalks were well cleared
and the walking was not so bad Cooper Union
furnished most Of the laborers as usual ana
there were plenty Of them. but when reporter
wandered into Mr.. Tate's office on Chambers
st. he heard that official saying: Tne harvest
hut he