Evening star., 1897-01-28
A TOUCH OF WINTER
The Snow Has Brought Out the Sleighs and
Bells.
Children, Too. Are Happy With Thefs
Sleds-COld Weather Likely
to Continue.

For the first time this winter Washing
ton has been visited with a genuine old
fashioned snow storm, and for the time
being every one who owns a sleigh is at
the top notch of popularity. Early yes
terday afternoon the f1eecy fakes began
falling, and they kept ii up without a break
until well toward midnight. By that time
the ground was covered with snow to the
depth of several inches, though the strong
wind that blew pretty regularly through
the night banked 1t up in some places to a
considerable depth, while sweeping other
places as clean as though not flake had
fallen.
The weather bureau prophesied a light
fall of snow. The prophecy was correct to
the extent that each particular flake was
light, or, as one humorous individual ex-
pressed 1t, 1T certainly was not a dark
snow" With the temperature so low the
snow did not melt when 1t fell but formed
in heaps as dry as powder. 1t drifted con-
siderably, and the wind carried the light
particles of snow hither and yon. so that
1t was difficult matter to tell just when
1t actually ceased falling.
Five Inches of snow Fell.
Today there was great difference of
opinion to the exact depth of the fall.
Under the circumstances one could hardly
speak of the snow on the level, for there
were few places where it really was on
the level. Inc records OF tne weather
bureau, however show that the fall
amounted to just five inches. This morn
ing the whole city presented a most pic
turesque appearance. The promise made by
the weather bureau that today would be
fair was kept to the letter, and when the
sun emerged from behind bank of leaden
clouds it transformed the most common
place objects into visions of radiant beauty.
Notwithstanding the fact that the sun has
shone all day, the snow has shown no signs
of melting, and brisk west wind prevailed
during the morning, and added materially
to the discomfort of pedestrians. At 10
o'clock thermometer exposed on the out
side of a downtown store. where it caught
the full force of the suns rays, registered
but 20 degrees above zero. The prospect OF
much colder weather tonight. with the pos
siblity of zero weather by tomorrow morn
ing, would seem to portend several days OF
sleighing, something unusual IN Wasning-
ton.
The sleighing today was superb. IL pack
ed just enough upon the asphalt streets
to give a firm surface for the runners
while it was not so slippery as 10 incon-
venence the horses. All day the streets
have been gay with the sight of natty little
cutters dashing along and the sound OF the
merry sleigh bells rafting out a lively
chorus. To the children 1t has been day
OF unmiXed delight. giving them the first
opportunity Of the winter to Use their sleds,
and they have made the best OF it. Even TO
the very poor the snow has not been an un-
mixed evil for while it has added consider
ably to their physical distress. it has at the
same time furnished employment to nun
dreds of men who would otherwise have
had no chance to earn an honest Denny
An increased force was put to work this
morning to clean the streets, while many
dime and quarter was earned by men and
boys In the work of clearing the snow from
the sidewalks in front of private residences.
Delay in Transportation.
During the worst of the storm last even
irg the street railroads We're subjected to
considerable delays Even the Capital
Traction and Metropolitan roads did not
escape and for time the cars were run
hing under a heavy handicap. Both roads
had their big sweepers out early and in
this way managed to keep their tracks
reas u ably clear. The suburban roads stood
it pretty well, and while they were unable
for the time to run on regular schedules
they managed to handle their traffic in a
generally satisfactory manner. Today all
tie roads were going along if nothing
had happened. Many incoming trains this
morning were behind time, but the officials
of the several railroads reported that the
delays were not at all serious.
The theaters and other places of amuse-
ment suffered considerab bly, from the storm,
for most people preferred to stay at home
last evening rather than to venture out to
breast storm that savored altogether too
much of blizzard.