New-York tribune., 1899-02-15
PEEPING OUT OF DRIFTS.
THE Sun SHOWS ITSELF AND
TEMPERATURE RISES.
TO BE STILL WARNER AND FAIR TO-DAY
TRAFFIC BEGINS TO SHOW LIFE
AGAIN AND MCCARTNEY AND
DUNN ATTACK THE SNOW.


fact all the states that are from Maine to
Florida were industriously engaged. yesterday
IN digging their way out of the snowdrifts IN
which Il had pleased Providence 20 plunge them.
True to the promise OF the Weather Bureau. the
storm swept up over New England In the cary
hours Of yesterday morning. and left the skies
bright and starry behind IT. The sun rose yes
terday morning in a perfectly cioudess SKY ana
the only reminder Of the biggest storm In eleven
years and the second biggest In the records OK
the local Weather Bureau. northwest
wind which howed over the snowbound city
at the rate OF ifty-f0ur miles an hour.
Snowbound the city was. sure enough. Every
railroad running into II was retired from active
business by dark Monday. Most OF tho
ferries in the East River were unable 70 operate,
and only the cabe-cars on the surface ana tue
elevated trains above were making any pretence
Of running. But with the cessation OF the STORM
not long after o'clock yesterday morning. all
the railroads and the surface roads as well be-
gan the herculean task OF getting things In
shape again. The railroads began 20 get few
trains through few hours before noon. and by
night there was something like an approach to
system on all the roads but they. Will not be
anywhere near on schedule time before this
afternoon tonight.
When that portion Of the towns population
which does business downtown poked its nose
out OF doors between and 8 o'clock and rushed
for the various lines Of cars that accommodate
IT, +, realized for the first time perhaps Just
how severe the storm was and just how much
more inconvenlent It would have been had X
occurred on any day but a holiday. The cable
lines were practically the only surface lines
that were in a condition 10 do any transporta-
tion worth the name. The elevated trains were
running quite as usual. and between the Two
business men somehow got down 10 their or
fees. But many OF them were from haf 20
an hour late. and travelling was extremely un-
comfortable. New-Jersey had more trouble IN
getting from under the drifts. The trollies were
in an exceedingly bad way. and they were very
far from being in a normal state last night Up
n Westchester the same conditions held true.
while on Staten Island IT took the better part of
the day to get cars to running on reasonable
time
BIG JOB FOR MCCARTNEY AND DUNN.
James Mccartney. the Commissioner ot Street
Cleaning. and Bartholomew Dunn, who has the
contract for removing the snow. realized yes
terday that they had big task before them
in removing the snow blockade In the streets
Of this city They both bestirred themselves.
Mr. Dunn sent out invitations 70 everybody
10 enlist in the army. and he invited everybody
who had horses and carts 70 Join In hauling ths
snow 10 the waterfront He promised to pay
for such work at reasonable rates. lie sent his
invitations to business firms who have horses
and trucks Of their own. telling them that II
they would assist in removing the snow from
the streets they would help their own interests
by making the streets N for business Some
firms. like the n B. slahin Company responded
to the invitation.
Before 10 a. m. Mr.. Dunn had an army Of over
four thousand men heaping up snow along tho
main thoroughfares of the city. and later IN
the day about two thousand more were at work
Carts trucks venders' wagons and even de-
livery wagons about four thousand In ALL were
in use hauling the snow from the streets 70 tho
rivers during the greater part Of the day and
last night The activity of 50 many men and
conveyances began 10 make the snow disappear
rapidly from some Of the streets. but there was
a great deal of snow 10 be removed. Mr.. Dunn
said he hoped 10 have the blockade removed
from the main tho-oughfares OF the city in a
few days.
The regular force Of the Street Cleaning De-
partment was kept at work yesterday clearing
cutters and crosswalks. making paths 20 nre
hydrants and removing ashes and garbage from
houses
The Street Cleaning Department and 'he snow
contractor were aided generously by the public
in all parts Of the city. Househoders removed
the snow from sidewalks vigorously and prompt
ly. considering the enormous amount of snow
that had been cast in drifts upon many side
walks. The work was so we'll done that walking
about the city was easy and comfortable last
evening
Mr. Dunn last evening estimated that about
forty-hve thousand loads Of snow had been
moved from the streets up TO ?. m. and the
city will have TO pay over $4,000 for the days
work OF his force. Last night the force was
concentrated in Broadway although men and
carts were busy in some Of the other chief thor
oughfares
To-day the principle work will be on the large
streets running east and west across town. such
as Twenty-third. Fourteenth Thirty fourth.
Forty second and the Harlem streets AS fast
as the principle streets in the skeleton ot the
map Of the city are cleared minor thorough
fares where there is traffic to any extent Will be
taken hold Of The residence side streets will
not be touched at all. owing 10 the great
pense OF clearing them.
Fifth-ave. the Boulevard and Sixth and Sew
enth aves. above Central Park. will be left
covered for sleghng
ELEVATED ROAD Overwhelmed.
The stopping Of the underground trouey-oars
and the delays in the running OF the cable-csrs
threw great burden OF traffic upon the ele-
waited roads in the city yesterday. Efforts We're
made by the managers OF the elevated roads
20 make the service as good as possible in the
circumstances but even travel on the elevated
roads was slower than usual. particularly In tho
rush hours The trains crawled along slowly
near the terminals. the trains could not be
switched fast enough 10 be kept out OF each
others way. At some hours the elevated trains
were crowded and packed almost to sunocation
by people who were eager TO get up or down.
town