Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-14
SUFFERING FROM COLD
Effect of Extreme Weather
Upon the Poor.
THE CHARITIES ACTIVE
FEBRUARY DECLARED TO BE
RECoRD-BREAKING MONTH.
Average Temperature Lower Than in
Any Year Since 1870 - Big
Drop Last Night.
THE CHARITIES ACTIVE

The cold weather which PREM Is
in Washington is causing an unusual
amount of suffering among The
poor, and the local charities are
taxed to their utmost resources to
provide fuel and food and clothing.
The month of February so far re-
cords a lower average temperature
here than has prevailed in the sar7e
number of days in the month in the
past thirty-fve years.
The weather bureau predicts a
moderate tnaw, and the officials of
that branch Ct the government are
arranging to give due warning
should a sudden breaking up of the
ice on the Potomac become prob
able.
By far the worst feature of the record
breaking "Klondike weather" which has
fastened it's icy grasp on Washington has
been the great amount of suffering it has
caused in tie homes of the poor. Some OF
the incidents describing human suffering
here that were related to Star reporters to-
day were distressing, and in attempting to
reduce the privations to minimum the
capacities of church, charitable society and
mission are being taxed to their utmost
Some of the living pictures of poverty
described by a South Washington police
man. as one of his hearers stated, would
touch heart of stone" Throughout
the southwest section, east of 4 " street,
which is largely populated by the poor,
suffering for food and fuel is said to be
almost general. To cope with these con-
ditions the Associated Charities and kim
bred organizations are exerting every eff
fort and all the limited means at their
command
The Average Temperature.
February, SO far said Professor Gar
riott of the weather bureau to a Star re-
porter this afternoon. has been a record
breaker, the average temperature for the
first fourteen days being eleven degrees be-
low the normal for the same period during
the past thirty-tive years. The minimum
temperature today was four degrees above
zero, which makes it, with one exception,
the coldestr day $50 far in the winter Of
1904-5. Generally Speaking. the present cold
wave has been the worst of the season"
The weather will moderate rapidly todoy
and tomorrow, added Professor Garriott,
with a thaw- which will set in tomorrow
forenoon 81 's-ff--'~ ss'-
Being asked about the effect of coming
weather conditions on the threatened gofg-
ing of the Potomac in this vicinity, Pro-
feSsor Garriott said the weather bureau
has made special arrangements for supply
ings gkers 1nene md shippers, not only n
Washington, but elsewhere, with reports
as to the lfaxora ble:s Or unfavorable river
Conditions in their localities.
1.-THE situations here lis paralleled by-those
along the Ohio river, the Missouri, the up
Der Mississippi and other rivers. where ice
eorges and the consequent freshets are
feared.
5...Warmer weather does not necessarily
mean a gorging of the Potomac" the pro-
ftssor added, but should there be gen
eral thaw, followed by a heavy rainfall
there would be great danger OF serious
damage Should the weather remain mod
erately cold the ice may break up and
Hoat down stream into the open water be-
low without trouble.
The thaw predicted for tomorrow will
hardly affect to any marked extent the
ice in the Potomac, which is reported to be
in some places about the docks, fifteen
inches thick
Cold Wave Sweeps Country.
The weather bureau reports today show
that the cold wave which has swept the
entire country east of the Rocky mountains
reached it's eliminating point in the Allan
tic coast states last night, and the tempera-
ture is now noderating all along the line
except in the southern states. There 1t Is
still very cold generally, but 1t is expected
to become warmer tomorrow. Through the
south the mercury ranged from degrees
above zero at Atlanta to Ia above at Mo
bile. o.
In Florida the temperature fell to =.
above at Jacksonville. According 10 the
weather officials the weather during tnt
past twenty-four hours has been the cold-
est of the season in most sections OF the
country In this vicinity degrees above
zero was reached at Z O'Clock this morning
but the mercury is now going up. Temporal
lures close to zero were experienced during
the past twenty-four hours from Virginia
northWard to western New York, where the
mercury sank to degrees below zero
Advancing eastward over the middle
Mississippi valley is area of low pres
sure and decidedly warmer weather, at
tended thus far by high shifting winds ane
| light snow which has fallen in Iowa, III
| nois and the region of the western lakes
| In all other districts fair cold but moderat
| ing weather has prevailed.
Drop of Thirty Degrees.