Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-12
SNOW SIX.INOHES DEEP
UNEXPECTED PRECIPITATION IN
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
Street Car Traffic Impeded for Time
Street Force Cleaning Cutters
and Crosswalks.

people OF tno DlStr1ct DofOro tOuorroW
morning by the experts at the weather bu-
reau. The little bit Of sunshine that warm
ed things up today Is only tantalizing
promise of more next time. Just when the
weather will calm down and give Washing
ton that winter temperature for which 1t
has become famous the meteorological ex-
perts Of the weather service do not care to
say. They state most emphaucally that
there Is no prospect of a change in the tenn
perature for several days to come. In fact,
none of them see any prospect of a change
whatever, and as far as can now be ascer-
tanned the mercury in the thermometer will
not go above freezing.
The first real snow storm Of the season
came yesterday, and very nearly tied up
transportation in Washington for the day
and night. Snow came in flurries about
2:3O o'clock in the afternoon. 1t did not
have the appearance of g. heavy fall, pe-
cause the fakes that struck the asphalt
seemed to melt as soon as they alighted on
the street. 1t came heavier and heavier,
however, and cold gust from the north
east froze every bit of moisture on the side
walks and in the streets. Faster and faster
fell the snow, and colder and colder be-
came the wind. The snowfall was so dense
at one time in the evening that it was i'm
possible to see the post office from The Star
building, across the street
After nightfall the wind was not so fresh
and the air was not quite so cold and bit
the downfall of snow continued until 10
o'clock, when the entire surface of the
earth in the District and it's vicinity was
covered with six inches of soft white snow.
IL was wet snow and one that chung to
the feet uncomfortably.
Street Car Lines Suffer.
Probably the greatest sufferers from the
storm were the various transportation COM
panies of the city. The street cars were
almost completely stopped at one time. The
snow on the tracks made the wheels whirr
without moving the cars inch, and the
dampness caused wires to burn out and
many cars to stop. Shortly after nightfall
all attempts to run trailers was abandoned
and only motor cars were run. This, of
course, lessened the accommodations for
passengers, and every car was crowded to
the uncomfortable stage. The heavy pull
Ing caused the fuses on some OF the motors
to blow out, and 1T was very frequent &C.
currence to see two and three cars in
line, one of them furnishing the power for
the propulsion of the others. Snow plows
were called into service early in the day,
but the snow fell with such rapidity that
there was as much on the tracks within half
an hour after the plow had passed as there
had been before. The plows were kept con-
stantly in service.
The snow had not long been on the
ground when the Jingle of sleigh bells could
be heard on all sides. Everywhere and in
all kinds of rigs people skinned over the
surface of the snow in their Gght-running
sleighs The avenue was crowded with the
outfits all evening and today, when the
snow was more firmly packed than last
night, the number of sleighs on the streets
was doubled. If the snow holds until to-
night it is reasonable to expect that the
avenue will be crowded and some merry
brushes will be had by the owners of fast
trotters. --,.-
Removing Snow From Street Crossings.
Four hundred men, with twelve two-horse
wagons and eighteen carts, were put to
work this morning by Warner Stutler. su-
perintendent of street cleaning, in removing
the snow from all the street crossings of the
city. 1t is expected the snow will be re-
moved from all the cross-walks by o'clock
this evening and tomorrow the street clean
ing force will be put to work removing the
snow from the cutters.
Although it is stated that only $1SS is at
present available for cleaning the snow and
ice from the crossings, the superintendent
of street cleaning decided to proceed WIN
the work, anticipating that Congress would
promptly respond, as heretofore, to the call
Of the District Commissioners for an APP
preparation. 1t is estimated the work now
planned. covering two days, VIII cost sou.
The Commissioners late yesterday AFTER
noon forwarded to Congress the draft OF q
bill asking for an immediate appropriation
of $1,000 to be used in removing snow and
Ice from streets .crOsS-WalkS anu 6ulleis
of the city. 1t is explained by Mr.. Stutler
that half of this appropriation Is to be used
In cleaning the snow from the narrow busi-
ness streets where it has been piled by
street car plows and where it has been
shoveIed off the sidewalks In such quanti-
ties az to prevent vehicles from approaching
the curb. ,.
Mr.. Stutler stated that it is very difficult
to obtain more than 400 men for cleaning
the snow from the streets this morning,
since great many laborers make from - on
to "a a day In removing the snow from the
sidewalks of the city. while the District
pays only $50 day for such work To-
morrow, he said more men may be employ
ed and the work could then be pushed more
rapidly.