Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-14
After the Blizzard.

Inc storm seems TO De mOQeratnS
throughout the east and there is present
hope that the weather bureaus forecast of
yesterday that there would be a rise in
temperature by Wednesday, will be verified.
Meanwhile Washington is getting along as
best II can. with minimum of car service,
with blocked streets and, in all too many
cases. with depleted cupboards and coal
bins. Yesterday will long be remembered as
of the widest, most terrifying days in
the record of the capital. There was death
In the gale. The drifts on every hand lured
the traveller into depths from which no
struggles could release him. Fortuna tely
but few people were abroad after dark.
Those who ventured forth did so at grave
peril OF their lives. The bitter cold soon
numbed even those who were violently ex-
ercising in the effort to make progress
through the snow. Unused to such weather,
the average Washingtonian suffered beyond
expression in the mere endeavor to get
home from work in the afternoon.
The sun which beamed forth upon a white
and wind-beaten city this morning was well
come indeed The light brought strange
fantastic pictures into view. The snow had
been driven into weird shapes, In some
places being blown clear from the ground
in others piled high as the caves. The city
was stunned after It's dreadful experience
1t is yet TO be learned how many were
found Ly the death which beat upon the
doors and windows Of the himsy huts on
the commons and screamed for admittance.
a full reckoning may never be made of The
sufferings of the twenty-four hours which
closed with the last wild blast of the gale
just before the sun rose
The present forecast is for continued cold
today. After yesterday no one will be
found to complain of a prolongati ton of the
low temperature, If the winds do not blow
and the snow does not fall With smiling
skies the discomforts of travel may be en-
dUred with more fortitude than during the
prevalence of the blizzard.
The dropping of the wind permits the re-
sumption Of the street cleaning work which
sends so many needed dollars into the
pockets Of the poor. in addition to aiding
the citizens in their struggles against the
storm conditions. This will be a great
blessing in many ways. Yesterday the
Commissioners requisiuon for more money
for emergency work was promptly granted
by the Senate and will doubtless be acted
upon by the House as soon as the matter
is presented 1t is fortunate that Con-
gress has been so liberal in this regard
during the crisis for the appropriations
which have been made have served to re-
leve distress and to keep the city In fair
condition considering all the adverse cir
cumstances.
The greatest danger at present is that the
snow will have blocked the highways of
transportation to the point of preventing
the inflow Of food and fuel supplies AL
ready the pinch is felt, but If the winds do
not rise again there should not be much
more delay in getting the railroads clear.
Meanwhile II is to be hoped that dealers
Will not unduly advance their prices, out
of mere hope OF gain. In many cases it is
inevitable that the prices should go for
ward. as the storm conditions have become
serious factors in the food supply problem
ana the prices have been automatically ad-
Vanced.
After the storm comes the thaw, and this
Is the menace IN the background. 1t is fu-
tile to anticipate an evil when anticipation
viii not operate to avert or minimize it. In
this case little can be done toward prevent
Ing the flood which seems to be SO lrnnI-
nent. save the opening of a channel in the
river by means OF the money appropriated
yesterday and the adoption of all known
precautions TO keep the ice thus broken
from choking at the bridge-dam. When the
thaw comes every nerve will doubtless be
strained to keep the river clear OF obstruc-
tons, but this is a hard task, with the
chances against success, In view of the per-
manent threat which the bridge presents