The times., 1899-02-14
THE STORM IN GEORGETOWN.
All Streets Impnssnblc and Much
Suffering.


The blizzard which held Georgetown in
its grasp yesterday and Sunday promises
to further paralyze business today. The
snowfall has been so great that it will
probably require several days to get the
streets into a passable condition. The
Capital Traction and Metropolitan Rail-
road Companies made every effort during
the early part of the day to get their
tracks clear, but yesterday afternoon they
gave up the attempt. The high wind blew
the snow back on the tracks as soon as
the sweeper had passed.
The Ten!eytown Road is still hopelessly
blocked, and last night it was thought I'M
practicable to make an attempt TO run the
snowplow and sweepers. The Falls Church
line and the one running 10 Arlington are
still tied up. All efforts to open these roads
have proved fruitless, and it is thought
that II will be several days before they
are running on schedule time In many
places on the exposed portions of the road
the snow is drifted from six to ten feet and
some of the cuts are completely filled.
On the Heights of Georgetown and in
the exposed places on the river front the
wind was terrific and the snow is in many
numerous places. The few persons who
have been able to get in from the outlying
districts say that the roads are simply i'm
passable for horses. Along the river front,
where the wind sweeps down with nothing
to obstruct its force, the cold is almost
unbearable.
The local branch office of the Associated
Charities on Thirty second Street was yes
terday besieged by a multitude of persons
who were seeking fuel, clothing and food.
The most urgent cases were provided for,
but a large number were compelled to de-
part unsatisfied. as the demand for the
necessaries of life far exceeded the supply.
number of charitable inclined men made
a house to- house canvass yesterday solicit
ing funds for the relief of the poor. They
realized handsomely and the funds which
they collected went a great way toward
! purchasing food and fuel for the needy. In
] spite of their good work, great deal re-
mains TO be done, and unless speedy aid Is
soon obtained it is feared that the storm
will result in death as well as suffering
The weight of the snow crushed num-
ber of small buildings In various parts OF
town. The stable belonging TO w. A.
| Custard, located in the rear OF the resi-
dence of Colonel Joyce, on Brown Street
| fell beneath its heavy burden of snow
damaging several wagons and carriages.
The coal famine which begun TO be fei'
yesterday promises TO continue today. The
great difficulty has been the inability oi
| the coal dealers 10 deliver their orders, a!
| II was impossible for the horses to make
headway through the drifted snow. There
| is said to be plentiful supply on hand
The streets this morning are more badly
drifted than they were yesterday, but II
is hoped that the wagon traffic will opet
them up today sufficiently TO make it pos
sible for the grocers and coal dealers tc
FIJI their orders. Should the wind con
tinue to blow as it did yesterday and las
night there is danger of a serious foot
famine.
The mails yesterday were very late ant
the difficulty which the carriers experienc'
ed In getting through the drifted street:
did not help matters.