Evening star., 1899-02-06
MANTLE OF WHITE
Washington's Surface Snow Covered
a Second Time.
THIRD OF SERIES OF STORMS IN VIEW
May Bring Rain and Thus Change
the Conditions.
AID FOR TIL E n EED D Y

The only relief from snow in sight is the
possibility of warmer weather, which would
change to rain the precipitation promised
for the next twentyfour hours. This is the
gloomy forecast from the gloomy weather
man in the gloomy bureau on NJ street, fly
ing today an extremely gloomy fag-a dark
blue ensign, run up for the purpose of pre-
dieting foul weather.
The third of series of southwestern
storms is advancing upon Washington, and
is due to reach the capital city tonight. 1t
will follow the example of its predecessors
and bring along an abundance of moisture
TO be delivered, according to the state of
the thermometer, either in huge snow flakes
or rain drops of like proportions. There is
TO heading the storm Off, and the barom-
eter at the weather bureau is giving warn
ing of its approach by a fall of several
points since morning.
The first of the trio of travelling disturb
ances-they call storms disturbances in
offlcIal parlanCe-reac he'd Washington early
Sunday morning, much to the surprise OF
every one, including the forecast official,
who had received no adviceS of its ap-
proach. 1t was storm of rapid develop
ment. one of the freaks of nature over
which the weather bureau has control.
Even the Saturday night FOUNDERS who re-
manned out late observed no clouds in the
upper strata. They saw stars, all declare.
NotWiths tanding this, Il heavy snow began
falling at o'clock Sunday morning, and in
less than eiS"t hours six inches of white
ness made Washington an immaculate city,
on the surface. The population arose to
find snow everywhere. The sleepy ones
rubbed their eyes several times before they
could believe what was reflected in their
drOwsy orbs. The snow of last Tuesday
k,.aI hoo 1fa
before.
A Sudden Drop.
Shortly before Sunday noon the storm had
spent its fury, the snow had ceased and
the clouds were Frightening. At 10 O'Clock
last night the stars were cleaning. The
thermometer took a sudden drop from 80
degrees to %. and there seemed to be Il
prospect of fair weather. The barometric
recording instrument, however, dissipated
the hopes of the late man at the weather
bureau, for when he gaZed upon the thin
red tracing across a multitude of lines 1t
was apparent another storm was in the vi
cinity. The tremulous line showed a de-
cided downward tendency The sky was
soon obscured with dark clouds, and short
ly after . O'Clock this morning the second
stOrnrovas upon Washington in all its pro-
fusion OF snow. The fall continued inter-
mittently up to 1 o'clock this afternoon
1t will either snow or rain for the next
the weather bureau to a reporter for The
Star this afternoon. The thermomete er
may show a rise soon, and in that case rain
will come. There is no indication of any
thing of the kind, however, and the likeli-
hood is that there will he only short in
tervals when the atmosphere is free from
the fieecy flakes.
THE storms of yesterday and this morn
Ing formed in the southwest. and there is
another announced in that section headed
for Washington. Washingtonians must
content themselves with bad weather for
some time to come. For my part I had
much rather have the snow than rain
The Snowfall
Up to 1 o'clock this afternoon the instru-
ments at the weather bureau had recorded
a fall of over eight inches of snow since
Sunday morning. something phenomenal
for the capital city. The snow is of a light
crystal formation and in many places in
the District piled up to a depth of :; foot
or more. In drifts even a greater depth
was reached. The streets are covered with
Two or more feet on either side where the
industrious men and boys have cleaned the
sidewalks and turned many an honest pen
ny The SHOWS have been 4 blessing in
that the work of clearing sidewalks has
presented an opportunity for mOney-mak-
ing that could have been brought about in
no other way.
The temperature in Washington during
little. ranging few degrees below the
freezing point right along At midnight
the mercury reached the 23-degree mark
At o'clock this morning it was u and at
noon 2S.
But Little Delay.
While its sudden appearance startled the
railroad officials, the snow has inteIfered
with traffic in and out of the city but lit
tie. On the rapid transit street railroad
morning and had the tracks in condition
for the running of cars long before the
great majority of people knew there was
any indication of d storm. Again this
morning the ploughs were brought into play
successfully, and throughout the day the
cars have been running on schedule time.
At the Pennsylvania and Baltimore ard
Ohio stations 1T is reported that the SHOWS
have caused orly few minutes of delay in
the schedules. The street and herdc
lines have continued operations bravely in
the face of such adverse conditions.
Rarely has such an opportunity for
sleighing as the present been offered the
Washington lovers of the sport. The streets
and roads are finely covered and the sur
face for runners IS almost Incompatible
An abundance of sleighing weather during
the past six weeks, however, has robbed of
it's novelty the merry jingle of the bells
The sleighs are looked upon as ordinary
features of street life, so often have they
been seen of late.
Condition of the Poor.
The poor people continue in needy cir
cumstances and the longer the duration
of the storm the greater will be the suf-
fering. The charitable organizations and
societies have had to meet extraordinary
demands, but contributions have been lib
eral and. il is said the funds so far have
proved sufficient to relieve all cases of des-
utution reported.
Mr.. John Joy Edison, treasurer acknowl-
edges receipt of the following contribu-
tions to the Associated Charities:
Heretofore acknowledged ......s 50 Ga OO
Bail q foHi1rd- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. > 90
~. II. stevens. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ) 90
l. j. W. robertson. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2 90
VI. Goldenberg Observation-Disclosures. 10 90
Elseman Brotners. observation-disclosures. %
Ihos r Mcguire. ire.-.--............... 90
l.: l. MulIn. ---........................ 90
Mrs. J. NJ. 90
Z. L. W ade. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 90
FRANK IL Thomas. as...................... 5 90