New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-13
SLUSH COVERS CITY
Rain FOLLOWS SNOW.
Cold Heather Promised To
d0u-To-morrO10 Uncertain.

The rain and snow which were whtrled up
the coast from the Gulf of Mexico to the
St Lawrence Valley left New York under
five inches Of slush yesterday. Several
small ships were wrecked and traffic along
coast towns was generally crippled, al
though the actual fall OF snow was less
than half that Of the other storms OF the
season More than twenty thousand men
went TO work TO clear the five boroughs OF
New York and its suburbs for the resnmp-
ton of business tomorrow.
At the Weather Bureau the recording IN
struments clicked off a variety OF weather
which gave the city a taste of spring ana
winter within a period Of twelve hours
from noon until midnight. Earlier in the
day, at $50 a. m, thunder was heard
plainly northwest wind on the heel OF
the mixture led the local forecaster 70
promise cold weather for to-day. lnolCa-
tions for tomorrow are uncertain
Although the storm was sighted Friday
morning by the weather forecasters, II
was disreearded by many of the street rail-
way lines which carry the city and subur-
ban traffic. Commissioner Edwards was
among the first to accept the Weather bu-
reau tip, and before the advance sauell
began to cover the city pavements ne hao
arranged three day contracts for the re-
1rovaI of snow from Manhattan, Brooklyn
and The Bronx Besides the contractors,
three thousand men we're engaged 10 AID
the regular street sweepers.
While men were being enrolled ali over
the city to rid the streets OF snow early
Yesterday morning, sIeet and hail piled on
the slush- At O'Clock the ice coated the
railroad tracks and when the subway eX-
press trains on the Lenox avenue line north
arc
scheduled TO get in motion, the worst tie
up of local traffic began. Trains which had
been laid up during the night could not be
budged until emergency crews broke the
crust of ice For a time hundreds Of per
sons who were on their way downtown
were held up
Commissioner Edwards last night notified
the contractors who are in charge Of the
snow removal work IN Brooklyn and The
Bronx that he would cancel their contracts
to-day if they were unable to keep up with
the work which has been laid out for them.
He made tour of the boroughs Yesterday
afternoon, and when he returned to the
snow removal office a No. so Fifth avenue
he ordered several superintendents to
Brooklyn and The Bronx
The removal of the snow ii The Bronx
IS so delayed that I will take charge of
the work there to-day. unless the con
tractor is able TO do the work according 70
our standard said Commissioner Edwards.
The contractors who are in charge of the
work made every effort last night TO com
ply with the Commissioners orders. Il
was said that the railroad com panies We're
offering better inducements TO the men.
and for that reason the contractors were
unable to get enough shovelleTs 10 load the
wagons. In Brooklyn the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company employed large gangs,
while The Bronx and Westminster lines
drew many men from the city. contractors.
Commissioner Edwards was pleased with
the snow removal in Mania tan. Although
the many streets in the downtown section
had not been cleared az midnight. the
contractors we're rushing work along
Broadway. Fifth avenue and the main cross
streets. The, Bradley Contra citing Company
stopped work on all their other contracts.
They also opened employment offices, and
every man who wanted 70 shovel snow
vas given work.