The Washington times., 1903-02-18
Thermometer Registered 5
Degrees Above Zero at
5 so o'Clock-Tempera-
ture Gradually Rising.
Another Drop in Mercury
Promised for Tomorrow.
Street Cleaning ApPropria-
ton Consumed.

NdShluSbOn = experiencing us Solu-
est weather Of the year AT $50 o'clock
this morning a minimum temperature OF
3 degrees above zero was reached, or s
degrees lower than the previous low
record OF January Is, when IL degrees
above was registered.
Since the minimum was reached this
morning the Thermometer has been rap
idly rising. reaching q degrees at 10
O'Clock and 80 by noon. The highest
point reached yesterday was IS degrees.
The Weather Bureau promises that it
will be still warmer by tonight, but to-
morrow there Will be another drop OF
about 10 degrees. This will be OF short
duration however Within a few days
it is thought that the principal streets
Of the city will again be free OF snow
and slush.
Street Cars Tied Up.
Regular schedules on the street rail-
ways OF the city have not yet been
resumed. Considerable Ineonvenierfce
was experienced yesterday and his
morning by persons living in the sub
urbs in reaching their places OF busi-
ness on time The snowDlows were
kept going on the suburban roads the
greater portion OF the night TO clear
the tracks OF drifts which attained-con-
siderable depth in some places.
In the more protected sections of the
city less difficulty was experienced on
some lines, however, particularly the
Ninth and Eleventh Street lines, there
was a scarcity Of cars and an uncer-
tafnty of movement
Owing TO the heavy freeze Superin-
tendent StutIer and his Street Cleaning
Department we're compelled TO abandon
efforts TO clear the cutters and crossings
of snow. No extra men were taken on
yesterday. but the entire f0-ce of the
Street Cleaning Department, with the
twelve large double team wagons. we're
PIT 10 work on the snow. Today >the
department was engaged in hauling away
ths snow that had piled up at the in
tcrsection OF the street railways
Proper clearing of crossings and gut
ters OF snow will completely exhaust
the available appropriation r. is prob
able that the District Commissioners
viii make immediate requisitiOn on Con-
gress for an emergency appropriation
Only 81 600 was appropriated this year
for cleaning the sidewalks Of snow. bur
an unexpended balance Of about 5000 re-
msined over from the emergency appro-
priation of 5000 last year.
River Dangers.
An appropriation Of 5000 also will
probably be asked for Commodore SUIT
ton to provide against serious damage
that would result from sudden thaw IN
the river following the heavy freeze.
The channel in the vicinity OF the new
bridge building for the Pennsylvania
Railroad in place Of the old Long Bridge.
is seriously obstructed with piling ard
other temporary structures used in con-
structing the permanent bridge. II
strenuous measures are not taken 10 pre-
vent an ice gorge the lower business
sections OF the city would surely be .
flooded with the backing up OF water.
Unless provision is made for such an
emergency before the adjournment OF
Congress the city would be helpless in
the event OF such a contingency.
Heavy winds this morning blew the
thin coating of ice that had formed ear
ly in the night down the river and also
caused an abnormaIly low tide. There
" 81 aA41 q AeAAAAL1 va - "a ANNNApLo u
oysters at the wharf.
This time year ago there was from
ten to twelve inches of ice on the yiver-
The cold snap. then. as now. came up
suddenly a thin crust of ice was also
visible on the tidal basin. but there is
little prospect Of the ice becoming thick
enough at the present time TO warrant
skating.
Trains Delayed
a few Of the Western and Southern
trains were late this morning. Beyond
this trouble the steam roads were eX-
periencing little difficulty in the move
ment of traffic. Conditions will again
reach normal by this afternoon.
The demands upon the Associated
Charities. particularly for fuel, continue
to De excessive. Owing to the illness OF
Charles f Weller, the secretary OF the
association. the work has been handi-
capped
The Associated Charities, as we'll as
the Citizens Relief Committee. is ex-
periencing difficulty in raising all the
money needed in the work OF caring for
the poor and needy. An appeal viii i'm
mediately be made 70 the public to sup
ply the deficiency.