Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-01
HEAVY FALL OF SNOW.
Virginia Covered With a White
Blanket Many Inches Thick
STORM SEVERE AT TIMES,
The High Wind Makes II Almost
a Real Blizzard.
STREET RAILWAY LINES BLOCKED.
Cars on Some Of the Lines stopped
Early and Others Run IrreguIarIy--
l
STREET RAILWAY LINES BLOCKED.
Great Damage Reported.

The snow-storm OF yesterday was the
most severe and the most general that
has fallen In Virginia for several seasons.
over the entire eastern portion Of the
State the snow fell nearly all day. Late
i'm the afternoon it assumed in many Sec
tions almost the proportions OF blizzard
The wind accompanying the snowfall was
quite high for several hours. causing
considerable drifting here and elsewhere.
In the Tidewater section q light rain
and sleet fell in the earlier part OF the
day. changing TO snow in the afternoon.
Later in the evening the snow became
hail, sleet and rain. which lasted until
. or 10 o'clock.
The average depth Of snow at points
west of Richmond was probably seven;
may be eight. inches. At Clifton Forge
it reached a depth of ten inches. The
showing ceased in Richmond between 10
and II o'clock, and at 10 o'clock it had
about stopped all over the State.
At many points as far west of Rich
mond as Clifton Forge il was clearing at
Midnight. The thermometer here at mid
night registered % above zero.
THE STORM IN RICHMOND.
In Richmond snow began falling a few
minutes before o'clock in the morning.
There was little cessation until after 10
o'clock last night. At o'clock in the
afternoon a heavy wind arose. blowing
violently for two hours. At II again
began blowing quite heavily, and at 9
~ ba In 1aI ttsft oil IL
Of snow that walking was by faith,
rather than by sight. Snow fell to the
! depth Of three and a half or four inches.
Street-car traffic was much impeded,
and on some lines was entirely blocked.
The Manchester and west Marshall lines
Of the Richmond Railway and Electric
Company were not operated after
o'clock. The street sweeper was put TO
work In the afternoon. and was kept busy
! the rest Of the day, and until late at
night. The Main-street cars were ope-
rated with reasonable regularity, save
for an hour or two in the earlier part of
| tLe night.
! The Traction Company's lines were not
! blockaded for any great length of time,
! but on several occasions last night. while
! the storm was at its worst. no cars were
! i'm sight on Broad street for u consider
! able time. The sweeper was put to work
early I'm the afternoon. but il stalled out
| on the Oakwood line between I and
o'clock. and ii was some time before II
| could be gotten through. II passed alone
| Broad about II o'clock. hCweVer, and
| thereafter there was no very great diff
Guilty i'm keeping the cars going 1t was
| intended TO keep four cars on each ln'
all night. but the cessation Of the snow
! fall obviated the necessity Of doing so
The Traction Company does not use sail
on its rails 10 keep the snow melted. th'
management saying IL causes electrolysis
! RAILWAY AND TELEGRAPH LINES
| Railway freight traffic was slightly de
| layed by the storm; passenger trains came
! i'm on schedule time. or, II behind, 1t was
owing to causes other than snow on the
| trscks
There was slight arrangement OF SOM
| OF the Western Unions lines, though IN.
| DELAY was in no case Of any consequence
| The PostaTs lines were not disturbed
| The telephone service was not serlousl!
| affected. nor was the city's ire-alarn
| service.
At3 o'clock this morning it was almost
perfectly clear. and very cold. Severa
! s,eighers could not wait for daylight anc
the merry jingle Of the bells made musi
cal the air Of night.