The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-01
INAUGURATION WEATHER.
A Burning Question Considered in
Light of History.

Light Of History.
From The Philadelphia Press.
Il is sincerely 10 be hoped that next
Thursdays weather win not be OF such
a character as 20 menace the health Of
the incoming President or Of the thou
sands who will throng Washington 10
celebrate the joyful occasion.
Il is a pity. however, in view Of the
fact that March cannot always be de-
pended upon. that Congress has not passed
the proposed legislation which viii permit
OF an amendment 70 the Constitution
designating april 1 as the day for the
ceremony; a ceremony which for the coun-
try at large should always have the most
agreeable and pleasant setting
Since James Monroe. IN 1877, IN order 20
compose a quarrel decided to hold these
Washington insuguTstions in the open air,
the 4th day Of March in Washington, at
these quadrennial periods. has acquired
az evil reputation; the weather having
most certainly been responsible for the
death OF one President, William Henry
Harrison. and for the fatal illness Of a
great many others who took part in the
ceremonies.
At the same time. however, there have
been pleasant March days in Washington.
and table which shows the range OF al
the 4ths Of March since 1873. on the
whole gives March a pretty good reputa-
ton for geniality In the latitude Of the
Capital. though the official record Of the
United States Weather Bureau. which
began in 1873. starts of with the coolest
March IL the thirty-six years that have
since passed by. the temperature Of %
degrees being the highest for that day
in 1879. Grants second inaugural while
during the tventy-four hours the Their
mometer went down TO degrees above
zero
Just what IS possible on March 1. how
ever. in Washington is shown in the con
trast between the weather Of 1873 and the
weather Of March 4. 1880. which latter
occasion was Ike a summer day. with the
lowest temperature as high as IS degrees
and the highest temperature = degrees.
making what would normally be called q
very hot day for people who had not on
thin summer clothing. Moreover. in al
these thirty-six years. from 1873 TO the
present. in al there have only been eight
8ths OF March in which the highest tenn
peratUTe ran below 20 degrees. so that. OF
I the whole. il Washington. II is plain that
the early days OF March are more apt q
I be spTinglike than otherwise
Naturally. II is the exception that
/ counts, especially when Il comes 70 an
/ Inauguration. but OF the nine inauguTa-
I tons from 1913 10 1916. inclusive. only OF
I three o. them was the highest JempeTa-
/ ture below - degrees. three were HodeT-
ate. and on the other three the highest
/ temperature ranged above % degrees How
/ ever. on these relatively warm days II
/ rafned. and. after all rain is a much more
( fOrnidsbl thing 20 meet on an insuguTa-
| ton DAY than clear. cool, or cold weather
! II was q brief rainstorm that prevailed
I only during the inauguration hours a
I McKinley's last Inauguration that spoiled
l the whole performance. while Il was tn
I raw dOwupOuT which prevailed all dsl
/ when Harrison was inauguTated in 1SS
! that gave March within recent year
/ the evil reputation as q pneumonia
( breeding occasion
As things 60. the changes favor rels
l lively agreeable weather on March : an,
while q rainstorm IS very apt 70 mark (
( mild March. the present outlook for tn
! Taft Inauguration IS that March xiii con
I tinue 10 be IS mild as February. sine
that seems 20 be the definite type O
/ weather for the winter Of 1893