Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-14
TWELVE PAGES
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY IA. 1899.
MORE RIGOROUS WINTERS.

In some parts of Virginia, where
heretofore dwellings, and other build
ings have been chiefly constructed with
view to summer. hereafter they will
be constructed and reconstructed, as
we'll as equipped and furnished with a
keen recollection OF the rigors OF this
winter. This is especially true of the
whole State not included In the South
Eastern and Tidewater sections. North
ern Notifications against frigid cold
will have to be adopted.
A correspondent tells us that at his
residence. two miles in straight line
directly North of Trevlian Depot, on
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the
thermometer on the sSouth-p porch of his
house has been frequently several de-
grees below zero since Christmas, and
that at o'clock in the morning of the
10th Of February, the thermometer
stood AT IS DEGREES BELOW zero.
This Is excessive and remarkable cold
weather in that latitude especially for
recent years. Our correspondent also
states that for two weeks, until Feb
ruary 9TH. SHOWS have been almost in
cessant though not In heavy storms or
falls; but that It's depth around aver
ages near two feet. The weather is
clear and bright. yet very cold, but
fortunately not windy.
The people of Virginia generally have
been accustomed to mild winters. and
they feel the rgor of the present sea-
son all the more sensibly for that rea-
son. Our correspondent also remarks
another change. Formerly there was q
great deal of cold weather in Septem-
Der. October. November and December.
and most OF the winter came before
Christmas; but now those months are
comparatively warm. and the brunt OF
the winter comes after Christmas.
Formerly. February was spring
month. in which some farmers planted
corn. Now. in that region, nobody
plants corn until May. or the last days
OF April; and February has become the
principal. II not the central, winter
month. The latter part OF December
Is sometimes wintry, but more fire.
quently springiike. with grass green
and growing; but on the whole, win
ter seems to have shifted to Jan
uary, February and March. with April
often included for the most part.
Winter houses. instead OF Summer
houses. must now be provided to meet
such weather as this. The outer wealth.
er-boarding must have close interval
lining Of tongued and grooved sheath.
ing. or Of thick felt or both; double
doors and double windows must be
provided; and besides the open fire.
places, hot water-pipes. furnaces or
steam heat will be added. However.
the beloved open fire-places and their
traditions and memories will still be
chung to largely. The unprepared con-
dition Of the people for this extreme
and protracted Arctic visitation has
made It SO bad on them: but as they
will now provide for similar occasions
IN the future. they will learn to enjoy
rather than dread their recurrence.
One would naturally suppose that
this weather would at least enable the
people of Piedmont, Central, Western
and Northern Virginia to provide
themselves with full supplies Of home
ice. without the expense of buying and
transporting Northern ice; but there ia
80 great snow blockade, and the cold
is so great, that 1t is as much as they
can do to procure sufficient fuel and
keep themselves from freezing. 1t
,nay be that another winter like this
may not come again for years, or
never: but IL will not do to reIy on
I that; and they will be wise who pre-