Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-10
COLD WAVE TONIGHT
Another Icy Blast Whizzing
This Way.
FOODSTUFFS SCARCE
COUNTRY ROADS MUDDY AND
ALMOST IMPAsSABLE.
Big Snow Storm Predicted by Hicks
Great Suffering Among Poor
The River.

The River.
| A young man was merrly whistling In
the Good Old Summer Time this forenoon
as he entered the portals of Uncle Sam s
meteorological dispensary. otherwise known
as the weather bureau, out on 24th street.
The genial sunlight. which has been a
scarce article hereabouts for the past six
months, had doubt caused his mind to
revert to the balmy warmth and gladstone
sunshine which are promised three months
hence.
You'd better cut that tune out until you
have heard from Professor Garriott," said
the outer Waterman, he stood at his
post as frigid as one of the icicles which
were hanging i'll abundance from the caves
of the official weather factory.
| In an adjoining apartment was Professor
Garriott, the forecaster, and he was busy
| telling Star reporter that another cold
| wave is whizzing along in this direction and
will reach Washington tonight
The weather will be much colder to-
night, said the professor. The tempera-
ture will begin to lower this afternoon and
the cold wave will be here tonight Tomor-
row the mercury will have descended until
it is 10 or 10 degrees above zero. Tomorrow
allure will drop from Is to II degrees in the
ensuing twenty-four hours
At clock this morning the official Their
mometers registered 80 degrees above zero.
The sunlight caused a partial thaw today
and the roadways We're deep with slush,
making travel over them difficult The
pavements, too, were in a slushy condition,
and pedestrians found it comfOrtab BILE to
wear their gum shoes.
The roads leading to this city We're re-
ported today to be in a terrible condition,
owing to the deep mud and partly melted
snow and ice AS result the country line
at the Center market was almost deserted
there being but few farmers or truckers
teams along B street, where there are
usually several hundreds of them on
Thursdays.
Hicks Representations.
Some of the representations of Hicks
the Pennsylvania weather prophet were
circulated in Washington today One of
his principal predictions is that this sec
ton will be visited some time between next
Sunday and next Tuesday by the heaviest
snowstorm of the present winter.
A number of idle carpenters found en-
pioyment this morning at 9TH street and
pennsylvania avenue, where the contrac-
tors began the work of erecting the big
inauguration stand at the northeast corner
of the Center market
The effect of the recent severe wintry
IN the Washington markets. With the bare
exception of fresh meats. all articles OF
food are reported to be scarce and high.
rms is particularly true of vegetables fish
and fowl. While there was a fair showing
of wild ducks and western quail on the
game stalls this morning, the dealers said
the BIRDS We're very scarce and correspond
ingly high in price.
Canvasback ducks were quoted at from
s4.5o to s. per pair; redheads, 81 80 and 49,;
mallard, $1.25 to $50; b'ackheads, IS cents,
and few quail at $3.50 per dozen.
Suffering Among Poor.
Evangelist Will C. McMichael of the Peo-
pies Mission $50 Pennsylvania avenue
northwest who is in almost constant touch
with the homes of poverty and want, said
the severe and continued cold weather has
caused great suffering among the poor of
our city
While the Peoples Mission does not act
as an agent in general way for the dis
tributlon of charity. said Mr.. McMichael
in his weekly report. just issued, when
deserving case is brought to our attention
we do what can to help out
One day last week we were told of
family that was absolutely destitute, in
want of everything that goes to make life
comfortable. The recital was a horrible
one. and while it was fresh in our minds a
reporter of The Star happened to drop in
and we repeated it to him. He, in turn,
last Friday. This publication reached the
homes and the hearts of many of Wash
ington's good people, and there was hardly
minute of the time all day Saturday that
was not occupied in meeting and talking
with people who had come to our hall to
offer contributions or to find out the ad-
dress of the family they had read of in
The Star so that they could go to their
aid. Not only this. but a great many Of
fers of help came through the mail Some
of these kind-hearted people suggested that
if advisable their contributions could be
used in relieving other cases of want if We
knew of any.
The way in which the people responded
to this call for help was something re-
markabe, and their liberality has made it
possible for to see that the wants of the
family referred to in The Star have been
provided for and a more comfortable place
in which to live has been secured for
them.
Conditions on the River
The moderate weather of the past forty
eight hours has made a slight change for
the better in the conditions on the river
no ice having made since early in the week
and the track made by the steamers re-
naming open. The steamers are able to
make better time and are now coming into
port somewhere near schedule time. Re
ports coming from the lower part of the
river state that the ice there has disap-
peared taking with it buoys and channel
marks. The conditions in Chesapeake bay
have also improved somewhat. as far as
the route between this city and Norfolk is
concerned, the winds having broken up the
ice, blowing much of it over on the eastern
shore. where il is still giving vessels trouble
There is no sign of breakup in the ice
on the river, and it is still in a solid mass
from this city to Blackistone's Island, ex-
cept where the Norfolk steamers have made
a track through it.
There is no danger of a gorge in the
river at present, but should the warm
weather continue for three or four days
longer the ice will then begin to break up
into large foes. which. drifting about, will
pile on each other and will then give the
steamers much trouble. 1t is when the ice
begins to drift that the danger of the gorge
at the bridges over the river will occur.
Broken Ice in River
The plans for breaking up and easing
the ice down the channel of the Potomac
when the thaw comes were formed at
conference in Commissioner Macfarlands
Office today, when the matter was discuss
ed by the Commissioner Harbormaster
Sutton and Engineer W. ]. Douglass. Both
dynamite and tugboats will be employed