The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-18
STORM SWEEPS UP
ATLANTIC COAST
Reminds of the Great Blizzard
of Three Years Ago.
SNOW is SIX INCHES DEEP
Prompt Action O! Local Authorities Clears the
Sidewalks = Railroad and Telegraph
Linei Iuterf.red With But Little
kiYer Somewhat Affected,

Tho snow-stornf of Sunday served to
remind many of the great storm Of the
same date IN February, just three years
before. Weather indications Sunday even
ing and Sunday night gave substantial
promise that The record blizzard
or 1883 might be equalled or bettered
The wind in Richmond and throughout
eastern and mlduie Virginia rose TO
good speed and drove before it the heavy
fall OF wet, cllng4ng snow. Virginia traV-
cIers in town and country on Sunda.
night experieced weather of character
frequent in this latitude.
Yesterday the storm had passed on to
the north, and the weather man promised
that 1t would he followed by colder
weather. The journey of this wintry visi-
tor, although from warmer ATTITUDES, had
been one Of interest. On Saturday MORN
ing Florida was visited. Following a
course to the north along the coast, by
Saturday night and early Sunday morn
ing the Carolinas were experiencing Z
downpour that was changing from ram
to snow. By Sunday night Virginia was
the storm center. Yesterday 1t had passed
off to Pennsylvania and the New York
coast, and snow was falling IN the sta.
north of Maryland
The storm brought to Richmond and
vicinity snowfall of about six inches,
the heaviest hereabouts since the great
storm of 1899. when there was snow
the depth of seventeen inches all over
the State. and snowdrifts. in which
man standing might easily have hioden
himself.
SNOW MELTED RAPIDLY.
The temperat ure moderated considera-
bly, yesterday, and the snow melted rap
idly. Last night a good part Of 1t, posi-
bly, half had run of.
No serious damage was done to tele-
graph and telephone lines. The trains on
some of the Virginia railroads were de-
layed, but the interference with trafhc
was not so serious as might have been
Anticipated. Within the city the street
railway lines were kept open in some
instances by the continuous operation OF
cars all Sunday night. The suburban
lines were more seriously hampered, but
were operating yesterday with consld-
cradle regularity.
The river remained about normal until
yesterday afternoon, when there were IN
dications of slight rise above Richmond
No serious rise is anticipated, especially
in view Of the assurances of the Weather
Bureau of colder weather to-day. which
will serve to check the running off Of the
melted snow
From reports from the Virginia and
Carolina coast, the severity Of the storm
seems to have been greater there than
farther inland. Norfolk reported eight
and a half inches of snow and a wind Of
forty miles an hour. North and South
Carolina ports send similar udinGs, and
all agreed that q binding snow storm,
with high wind. had combined to make
the fiercest weather at sea experienced
within recent years along the South At
lantc coast
SIDEWALKS WELL CLEANED.
Through the active efforts of the police
and Superintendent Cohen, of the Street
Cleaning Department, the sidewalks of
Richmond were almost cleaned of snow
Yesterday. Patrolmen We're ordered to
notify househoIders that the sidewalk
must be cleaned in accordance with the
city ordinance and the order was gen.
orally obeycd. This IS III line with JUS
tice Crutchtieldrs recent statement In
Police Court that the cleaning OF snow
from the sidewalks would never be made
possible in accordance with the ordinance
until the matter was turned over to the
police.
Another thing which tended to induce
houseroldels to clean their sidewalks
is the fact that the test case made out
some time ago by Superintendent Cohn
against Bailiff Lawrence Gibbons. a
court attendant, to see If the gutter
cleaning and snow ordinances can be en-
forced, vii. come up this morning before
Justice Crutchield In all probability
Mr. Gibbons VIII lie fined and the matter
will be appealed. In the higher court
an effort will be made to establish the
validity of an ordinance which has some
dozen times been declared void by the
higher court.
The good results OF tire work Of Super
intendent Cohn and the police i'll notify
ing hous cholders that they must have
their sidewalks cleaned were shown early
in The day and employment was given to
a host of men and boys. BY noon The
walks were clear in many Of the princi-
pal streets and by o'clock last night