Evening star., 1899-02-10
Average Temperature Today Will
Fall Below Zero Mark.
MODERATION FOR TOMORROW
Increased Suffering Among the
Poorer Classes Of the City.
BUREAU ISSUES BULLETIN

This is the coldest day on record for
| Washington. The average temperature
when summed up, will be less than Zero
the mercury registering degrees below
this afternoon at l O'Clock and having
ranged from that figure downward through
out the morning.
Not content with the unenviable record
made yesterday, the mercury this morning
took a drop unto itself and at s o'clock
registered rs degrees below zero, being
eight-tenths of a degree colder than on the
previous day. The mercury passed the zero
mark on its downward career early last
evening, and from that time I'D to the last
reports received this afternoon had not
regained the point from which all coldness
is easured.
Weather Maps Interesting.
Nothing else seemed TO excite as much
interest at the Capitol today as the weather
| maps. One of these maps is located in the
lobby of each house, and during the morn
ing members anI senator's We're crowded
about them discussing the weather and
making comparison Of temperature between
their respective homes.
The fact that the temperature in Wash
ington was below zero at o'clock and
had not got higher than ) below at 10
o'clock was startling disclosure, and no
legislative incident could detract from the
interest in 1t. Even speech in the House
by the eloquent Mr.. Brosius could not at
tract members of the House from the
weather map, and senators at their end of
the building were endeavoring to prove by
argument that degrees below at Wash
ingtCn was colder than - or 30 below in
the western mountain regions.
One of the weather stations in West Vir-
sinia is called "Elkins,' and Senator Ell
kins' colleagues are in the habit of max
ing point of inquiry: How is the weather
at Elkins?' One after another they had
the senator out in the lobby this morning
to explain why it was 22 below zero at Ell
kins, and he argued earnestly to prove that
that temperature was more comfortable
than S below at Washington.
The Coolest on Record.
Previous to today the coldest day on
record was December 81, 1880, when the
thermometer ranged from 13 degrees above
to 13 degrees below, an average of zero. To
come within this record the temperature
would have to reach degrees above zero
tonight, this being regarded at the weather
bureau as an imoossibility, according to
the outlook. The cold will continue to-
night, and the forecast is for a slight mod
Grafton tomorrow.
This same hope OF less frgidity was held
out yesterday, but failed Of materiaiiza ton.
the records of today plainly show. In
the west and south there has been rise
in the temperature of from - to % degrees,
and it Is more than probable the warmer
weather will reach Washington tomorrow.
With the moderation will come snow or
rain, as fall of the fleecy staple is re-
pt rted in the Ohio valley and middle west,
with rain setting in through the gulf states.
Endured With Poor Grace.
The cold in Washington today might be
properly termed excruciatng. Unused to
such display on the part of the mercury
the people of this cline endure the weather
with poor grace and no end of discomfort.
There has been no little difficulty expe-
rienced keeping dwelling and business
buildings comfortable. Out of doors such
a thing as keeping warm has been iInpos-
slbie. The conditions upon the street are
very much the same those of Yesterday
Notwithstanding the fact that the tempera-
ture this afternoon is about 10 degrees
colder. The chilly winds continue to blow
from the west. the snow has shown no di-
mlnlShment, Notwithstanding the efforts of
the District Commissioners, and the same
cold persoi are seen walking and running
mere ana there attending TO business The
slippery, snow-cOvered sidewalks and
streets have been the cause Of innpnnnr
able tumbles and some really serious falls.
The mot9rmen re suffering greatly from
the cold Tfeir exposed positions and COM
parat1vely long hours Of labor make their
lot an extremely hard one They iump
about on the platform endeavoring in this
manner to keep their blood in circulation
me polcemen are still working short
shifts and will continue to DO so until there
Is marked rise in the temperature.
Skaters Enjoying l, e Freeze.
Skating on the lakes and portions of the
river has been the pastme of many today
This exhilarating sport is rarely enjoyed in
Washington for any length of time but
there is every indication now of an extend
ed season Hundreds of boys and girls are
out on the Ice cutting fancy figures and
enjoying themselves thoroughly.
The continued cold has brought a vas.
amount OF suffering to the people of Wash
lnston. Prior to the last snow storm the
general conditions among the needy Were
not bad. The open winter and the large
amount of work going on in which COM
mon labor was employed had kept most
families from want. The SHOWS put stop
to this class of work however and in many
cases contagious diseases have struck in,
affecting families that ill-afford the
necessary expenses of any long period of
illness.
Some of these families have been quaran-
tined, and as their source of income has
thus been stopped they are wholly depend
ent upon the charitable organizations.
These have been doing a noble work, and
up to last night had relieved all urgent
cases. Today they have been deluged with
appeals for help and have had inesti-
NAB amount of work 20 do.
1t is hoped that by tonight the work will
again be well in hand, and the poor we'll
cared for. Mr. John Joy Edison, treasurer
oil me Associated Charities, has received
large number of contributions, which he
Will acknowledge properly as soon as the
| different items can he listed
bureau Bulletin.
The weather bureau today issued another
special bulletin, reading as follows:
There has been a marked moderation in
temperature throughout the middle western
states and in Florida elsewhere the intense
| cold has continued. The absolute minimum
temperature reported this morning was ~
| degrees below zero at White River. Ontario
| The coldest point in the lake region was
Grecnbay, Wis, with minimum of ~
| degrees below zero, and La Crosse, Wis.,
| with minimum of 32 degrees below zero
! was the coolest place on the Mississippi
| river. In the Ohio valley, Parkersburg
| w. Va, showed minimum of 20 degrees
| below zero, and Washington. d. c.. with
degrees below zero was again the coldest
| city on the Atlantic coast.
| AT Pittshurg, Pa, the temperature 20 de-
| sre9s below zero, was eight degrees below
| any previous record at that place In the
| Ohio and middle Mississippi valleys. the
| western upper lake region and the middle
| Atlantic states the morning temperatures
| were l degree to IS degrees lower than auy
! previous temperature reported for the first
| decade of February. In Florida the twenty
| four-hour temperature rise has been IA de-
| grees and to AZ degrees at Jacksonville IA