Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-06
The Cold Wave Will Not Last Much
Longer.
TEMPERATURE GETTING 10 NORMAL
Much Suffering Caused Among the
Poor Of Washington.
THE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE

The weather bureau promises that the
present cold wave will not last much
longer. Its backbone is broken" said
Forecast Officer Bigelow to a Star reporter
this morning. "It is pretty safe to say that
from now on the temperature will continue
to rise slowly, but steadily, SO that by to-
morrow night it ought to be back some
where near the normal.
What is the normal? Well for the first
ten days of January the normal tempera-
ture for o'clock in the morning is about
~ degrees. 1t is degree or two higher for
the evening. The mercury went down to s
degrees this morning, which is the lowest
point reached during this spell of cold
weather, so you see it must be a good deal
warmer before the temperature gets back
to where it ought to be-
"All through the west the temperature
has been steadily rising. and we will feel
the effects of it before long. Up in New
England 1t Is colder this morning than it
has been before. They are feeling the
worst effects. Of the cold wave today, and
up In Quebec the thermometer registered
way down below zero.
As Far Down as Florida.
FLORIDA has been a severe sufferer, too
They got the worst of 1t yesterday, and I
Imagine good many people stayed away
the cold. All along the gulf states the
mercury went down into the twenties and
freezing weather prevailed even at TAMPA.
The people in that part of the country
are ill-prepared for any sudden spell of
cold weather, and presume we will hear
good many stories Of injuries done to
the crops and the orange plantations NV
the frost. The temperature has gone up
ol an average o. 10 degrees. and they will
PROBABLY have 1t milder from now on.
mere is no other cold wave in sight
to follow on the footsteps of tho one that
is getting ready to leave US, but the
chances are that such skating as there is
now now VIII last for several days at least.
The cold wave may pass Off with a furry
of snow. That is always a possibility un
der such circumstances, but the chances
aie not sumclently great to warrant the
"gather bureau In predicting snow
The cold wave has caused great deal
of Inconvenience and even SUFFERING while
1t has lasted. Not only from the yerv
poor have the complaints come but people
IN comfortable circumstances have had
their plans sadly interfered with by the
severe cold. The streets were compara-
tiveiy deserted yesterday, for every one
VINO mad a home preferred to stay beside
haI as CHEEKY as brisk fire in the crate.
p[o'id1ng the furnace was in good coi.di-
ton to help it out. Those who had M
scruples against it found good hot whisky
despised, and at many Sunday dinner
eaoie the Ice cream went begging.
Skaters Have Fun.
Skaters found the weather admirably
suited to their purposes, for that part of
the river that is known as the bathing
oeacn was frozen over in fine style, and
the lake at Chevy Chase was like a sheet
OF glass all yesterday and today. 1t was
quite the proper thing for bicyclists, men
ana women, to strap their skates over their
hahdie bars and HE themselves riyerward
IeavinS their wheels at some convenient
sp p', near py While they enjoyed the fun of
snaing over the smooth ice. Even farther
down the river has been frozen over In
pIaces, interfering with navigation to a
very considerable extent. ARRANGEMENTS
nave been made to turn on the electric
nshts at Chevy Chase lake this evening tf
the ice holds, and this may result in y
diVlsfon of the crowd of skaters who would
utheI"lse nave headed for the ice palace,
r Mnlih opens. opens at Convention Hail. The
.ital attraction, however, is not likely to
interfere to any large extent with the non.
uiarty OF the ice palace which has the
novelty OF combining a surface of smooth
zee with pleasant temperature for the
ska tiers. " 'Ae
suffering Among the Poor.
The cold snap has greatly increased the
suHerirg among the poor Of Washington.
ana the result is that the offices of the diff
Ierent relief organizations have all been
s"amped with applications for assistance
70 'loe the needy through the time of par
ticuiar distress. Many pitiful stories of
need and actual suffering have been poured
INTO the ears of the relief workers, and IN
every instance where the applicant proved
to be a deserving person and his needs
genuine, the necessary relief has heen
given without delay. But the funds of ali
these organizations have been running low.
anu 'he experiences of the last few days
nave proved that the committee to call
upon the citizens of Washington for as
ISSUANCE was not appointed any too soon
Inc Central Union Mission has been over
crowded with homeless men, who sought
work ana meal and nights lodging The
wood yard In connection with the mission
Is filled with cut and split wood, and as II
accumulates faster than it can be disposed
OF the mission is not able to employ as
many men as it otherwise could do. IF the
kindling wood could but find ready mar
ket 1t would greatly facilitate the working
OF this practical charity, and again an ap-
peal has been made to the community To
purchase it's wood from the mission at fair
market rates. The police stations all fur
nished accommodations to scores of hungry
and footsore travellers last night. and
good many of them expressed the opinion
that thirty days in the work house tust
now would not be so bad.
The Emergency Committee.
There was a meeting of the emergency
committee appointed by the Associated
Charities at the office of Mr.. John Joy Ed
son Saturday afternoon to consider the
present condition of the poor, and to pro-
vide a plan for Immediately relieving their
wants. Mrs. ]. w. Babson, Mr. Edison and
Mr.. Nathan Bickford We're present Miss
Katherine Prescott ard Mr.. ]. W. Davis
Icing unable to attend. An Informal dis
crssion Of the question followed, after
which the E'eeting adjourned until We'd
Tesday afternoon, when it is hoped plans
will be perfected. Before the meeting adj
journed the following resolution was unan-
fnously adopted:
Whereas it has been announced that a
pound party to secure donations for the
poor OF the District is to be held by The
Evening Star Santa Claus Club; therefore.
be it
Resolved, That this committee suggests
that the pound party be held at as early a
date as possible, and that it urges the peo-
pie of Washington to avail themselves of
the very practical means thus offered to
Contribute supplies to be distributed among
the poor on the recommendation of the
Associated Charities"
Other donations, it was agreed. should be