Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-19
WINTER LOSES GRIP
Moderate Temperature and
Rain Herald Springs Coming.
CITY ENWRAPPED IN FOG
Frozen Coating Of Streets Dissolved
by the Sun-Ice on River
Seems Doomed.

Having slipped and fallen down hard
Saturday night in predicting fair weather
and balmy breezes for Sunday, followed
by unsettled conditions and rain today,
the weather man came back strongly
this morning with the announcement that
the sun positively will shine all of today.
and that the stars will be undimmed by
clouds tonight. Rain is in prospect for
tomorrow. however. but there will be lit
tie change in temperature. and since
there are no indications of another cold
wave moving upon the National Capital
at any time in the near future, the pre-
dfctfon is offered that deep inroads will
be made on the accumulated frost in the
ground. Similarly the entire stratum Of
ice Of the Potomac and its tributaries
seems doomed to disappear under the
combined influence of warm rays of the
sun and repeated showers.
Peculiar Weather Conditions.
early this morning. Much moisture was
dribbling over the surface of things after
the rain ceased last night and the clouds
rolled away. and when the mercury drop
ped to the freezing point all sidewalks
and asphalt streets were coated with a
thin layer of Ice. The slippery surface
apparently caused no trouble for auto
mobilfsts, but it was one of the worst
mornings Of the year for horses, and de-
livery teams were stalled everywhere in
the early morning hours because the
horses were practically unable to move
without slipping and failing. On the
heights in the northeast and northwest
the sun put In an appearance on sched-
uled time, and the frost and ice quickly
h1rt he lou -
the downtown section a heavy fog cur
tain completely yelled the sun for a cou-
pie of hours.
Moderate Weather for Week.
In the official weather bulletin moderate
weather is predicted for the entire week.
although a miniature cold wave is in
prospect in the far northwest. It is
stated that the next general storm ia
cross the country will prevail in the north
Pacific states tomorrow and Wednesday.
the middle west about Thursday and the
eastern states Friday. The precipitation
attending this disturbance will be mostly
rain, although snow is likely in northern
states east OF the Rocky mountains.
stormy weather Is indicated for the
north Atlantic steamship routes east of
the Grand Banks.
Isolated Section Seeks Relief.
The coming Of the warmer weather. fog
and rain will be welcomed by the resi-
dents Of that section of Virginia lying
between the Potomac and Rappahannock
rivers, the greater portion of which has
been without means of communication
with the outside world, except by tele-
phone. for nearly six weeks. The last
trip OF a steamboat from this city to
Colonial Beach and other points on the
Potomac was made January g. and the
Rappahannock has been without steam
boat service for about the same time TO
get supplies the merchants of the north
ern neck have been forced to drive to
Fredericksburg, a distance varying from
fifteen miles to fifty miles.
Mails. too, have been very irregular in
the lower part of the neck" as the mail
boat between White Stone and Urbanna,
on the Rappahannock, has been held up
by the ice. This condition of affairs has
made the residents of the northern neck
determine to have q railroad line through
that section from Fredericksburg, and a.
movement in this direction has been
started by the leading merchants of the
country. and it is backed by the bust
ness men of Fredericksburg, who expect
to control the trade of rich section of
the state when the road is built.