The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-19
Showed Half the Day Nester- day tut Temperature Re-
 mained Comparatively Low
CLEAR AND COL DER IS
 WEATHER MAI>'S 5 FORECAST
indications Are, However, That More Snow Will Be Seen-Fall Ex- tremely Heavy In Northern
 End of State.

End of State.
 Birmingham Is now in the throes of the first spell of real. wintry weather of the year that is about to expire. The snow which fell yesterday was the heaviest in five years and was viewed here as quite a novelty by reason of the absence of the downy flakes in this part of the country in the few years just past
 Colder weather Is predicted.
 And more snow Is expected.
 United States Weather Observer W. r. Lehman, the official prognosticator in the Birmingham district, announced last night that the lowest temperature of the day up to o'clock was 2S degrees above zero, but he said that the mercury was slowly creeping on a downward course and Jack Frast has not yet finished his work in Bir- mingham.
 It is believed by MT. Lehman that the temperature will drop to 20 de- grees. The best indications are that today will be fair and colder than yes terday, and fair weather is expected until tomorrow anyhow.
 The snow which fell yesterday was caused by the meeting of two dis tinctive disturbances of the weather in two sections. The very decided cold wave which bore down from. the north west was met by the disturbance which prevails along the gulf coast and the snow resulted. The fall of snow over this district averaged prob ably an inch. The weather observer measures 1t in liguid form. however. and he states that his figures show that the snow and sleet combined measured .2S inches.
 Came In Installments.
 The near snow storm of yesterday came In installments. so to speak Shortly after 6 o'clock the downy flakes began to fall with the sleet which came down from the clouds. Shortly after T o'clock however, the fiakey shower subsided and then resumed shortly after o'clock. The snowfall was steady then for about four or five hours, the flakes being the largest seen here in years. Not long after noon the snow ceased to fall and dry. cold weather has prevailed with compara- lively little wind. which fact lessens considerably the disagreeabl bleness of the weather.
 Various moods had a whole lot to do with the nature of the reception of the snow. There were many who pre- ferred a continuation of the fine h. Han summer which remained so long unbroken. Others contend that the cold weather now. accompanied by hard freeze will mean much better health for the community next summer Perhaps they believe that it will kill out tn hook worm, the pellagra germ and a thousand other bugs that bring on the ills human flesh is heir to, and maybe 1t will catch several billion unsuspecting boil weevils unawares and freeze their pesky nibblers so the farmer can raise bumper cotton crop next year.
 Want to Compromise.
 Others of the more indifferent class are thinking of their cold toes and sensi- tive bodies and would have the weather observer confer with the elements with a view of effecting a compromise. condi- tiona1 or unconditional, just as he pleases.
 The plumber. of course, is more opti- mistic at present than he has been. He is sorting out his tools cheerily rubbing his hands, and altogether he is more in- terested in the world than he has been of late. The coal man will now allow you to talk a little bit about prosperity and he is feeling considerably better over the outlook for business.
 The small boys and girls and some of, the larger ones watched the descending flakes with eager eyes and when the ground became covered they donned their wraps and mittens and went out for a snow-ball battle. the first in several years.
 Business in the city went on yesterday inst as if there had been no radical change in the weather The covering of snow was not heavy enough to interfere with traffic. in fact very little of the snow laid on the streets. Last night, however. after the mercury had taken a very de- cided tumble the streets were somewhat depopulated. the usual Saturday night crowd being minimized considerably.
 Of course there IS ana VIII DC suuer-, ing among the poor but no bad cases have come to notice so far. The charita- ble organizations of the city are on the alert and real sufferers from the cold will no doubt be cared for.
 At the jails no excessive number of cases of drunkenness is reported, al- though the police. along toward midnight. he~nn to find men who had inbibed too freely
 Taken altogether, the little snow fall has added considerably to the spirit of the season and if the cold clear weather continues this week an ideal Christmas is before Birmingham
 Situation Over State.
 The cold wave is prevalent throughout the interior of the country. Birmingham is right on the snow line. it is reported and South Alabama has not suffered the full force of the cold spell
 However, the snow signal has been thrown out by the weather observer in Mobile for the first time in years and if the Gulf City catches snow fall. Bir- rningham will probably get a good, heavy coat of the down which falls from the clouds
 North Alabama is covered A travelling man from Nashville reported last night that the entire country from the Tennes- see city down to Hanceville, in Cullman