Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-06
FOLKS ARE SLEIGHING
ALL WASHINGTON TAKES AID
VANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITY.
Temperature to Continue Crisp and
Cold-On the River-Need OF
Appropriation.

Cold and crisp north winds today made
the mantle Of snow firm and hard, and
those Washingtonians who are possessed OF
slegihs took advantage OF the occasion,
and with their horses decked with tink.
ling bells they enjoyed what has become
rare sport here In recent years. jolly
sleigh ride over the broad thoroughfares OF
the city. Some Of the sleighs were time
worn and rusty, to be sure, after years OF
disuse, and others were homemade affairs
of clumsy appearance, but the sport was
heartily enjoyed all the same, and the
merry sleighing parties made the well<in
ring with their joyous peals of laughter.
Prof. Edward B. Garriott says the tenn
perature will continue crisp and cold, with
q very slight rise In the temperature to-
morrow. Away out in the British terri
tories, he added the mercury is from 80 to
40 degrees below the zero mark. This after
noon the temperature here was 20 degrees
above zero. At o'clock this morning 1t
was "A to IS degrees below the freezing
point, and water in exposed places froze
good and hard.
Pictures Of Real Winter.
Pictures of real winter are presented in
the city parks. the bushes and trees ap-
pearing like ghostly growths of white. The
Geological Park was practically showed
under. and the gaunt polar bear was in his
element and clearly indicated his delight at
the north pole conditions that surrounded
him. The elk. deer and buffaloes and some
of the hardy birds are outdoors and appear
prevailing. About 100 people visited the
Zoo yesterday. and more than half that
number were there today.
There were lively scenes on the Speedway
today. where small sleighng carnival was
In progress. Beginning at o'clock this
afternoon and continuing until o'clock a
parade of decorated slelghs is scheduled to
take place. 1t Is said the Speedway COM
mittee OF the Drivers and Riders Association
had meeting yesterday morning and be-
gan the issuing of invitations for today
parade. The public was invited to take
part and contest for the prizes which will
be awarded to the three handsomest sleighs
The cold weather that followed the big
snow of Monday last froze the snow lying
on the surface of the water, and yesterday
steamers on the river below Alexandria
found 1t tough and hard to break. Capt.
James 7. Barker of the steamer Harry
Randall reports having found tough ice
from Colonial Beach to Fort Washington,
and off Riverside it was found so thick
steamer would get through it. Instead of
reaching here about 5 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, 1t was after midnight before the
steamer arrived. The steamer Estelle
Randall. which carries the mails from this
city to Glymont, Md, found the ice gorged
from Marshall Hall. and about Glymont
1t was particularly heavy. The steamer, be-
In In the gorged ice and snow, was
unable to extricate itself for several hours
One of the big navy tugs in attempting to
aid the Estelle Randall hung in the ice
herself and had trouble in working free
from it. The Estelle Randall. due here at
4 o clock yesterday evening, did not arrive
until IL o'clock pm.
The officers of the Norfolk line steamer
report having encountered considerable ice,
but the big steamer came through it and
nearly har dnlo
this morning.
Between this city and Fort Washington
only little ice is to be found. the heavy
Ice being below the fort and packed about
the wharfs.
The Estelie Randall left here on her reeu-
lar trip this morning, but the steamer
Harry Randall has been withdrawn from
the lower river route and will not resume
the trips until the conditions improve.
Cleaning Street Crossings.
Superintendent Twohey of the street clean
ing department put 800 men to work clear
Ing snow from the crossings early this
morning. and he expects to have every
street crossing in the city clean by o'clock
this evening. He also had twelve two
horse wagons with capacity of four cubic
yards of snow each hauling the snow from
the junction points of the street railways
where 1t has been piled, in some places as
high as four feet.
gress promptly passes the joint resolution
transmitted by the Commissioners yester-
day afternoon requesting a special appro-
priaion of 5000 as a snow and ice fund
to be used the remainder of the season the
District will be in a bad way if any more
snow puts in an appearance. After the little
army of workmen who have been removing
the snow from the streets for the past two
days have been paid, less than $500 will be
left of the s.. 800 annual snow fund and
that sum will not be sufficient to pay for
properly clearing the cutters and sewer
openings when the thawing sets in.
ITO properly handle the snow situation in
Washington and in order 10 be free from
any worry, we should have at least an an
nual appropriation of $4,000" Superintend-
ent Twohey said. The necessity of this
Is demonstrated every time it SHOWS. The
first snow, which was comparatively light
one cost US 500, the next one. which was
little heavier, cost 500; the present one will
cost about 81 900 to remove, and more than
500 to clear the cutters during the thaw-
ing