Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-31

Relief from the cold wave that for the
last few days has gripped Washington
and the entire east from the New Eng
land states to Florida is promised by the
weather bureau for tomorrow. Tempera-
| lures are due to rise somewhat tonight,
according to the local forecast, and to-
morrow is expected to show further rise,
though snowstorm is likely to accom-
pany the warmer weather.
Record low temperatures for December
were recorded yesterday and last night in
this city and vicinity. At no time yester-
day did the mercury rise higher than 8
degrees above zero. official. while record
ing Thermometers in the weather bureau
kiosks, working on charts made to indi-
cate only degrees below zero, ceased to
operate when the pens slid down Off the
paper strips.
Drops Below Zero.
Unomcial readings from good tter-
mometers showed as low as Z, and 9
desrees below zero. The lowest on1cta
Esssalae - aslys9s below. secofd4d q
borrower. ths mercury had crawisd ssp ID
9 4eIreess abovey and at midnffhf ft hsd
Ni1 ~ aown aezin 70 9 degrees abcve the
A1e!rv 1e!v - AZ so o clock this incoming
sooay,s soyese. Ie degrees above zero. was
Ice, eight inches thick, covered parts
OF the Potomac river yesterday AFTER
noon. and this thickness was consider
ably increased last night and TO-DAY.
The river Is reported to be covered with
Ice from point above GEORGETOWN to
Glymont. channels for the river boats
being kept open only by means Of the
hardest work on the part of the boats
fl1 - Rvrav~ = L. a.
skaters were out on the river itself yes
terday afternoon. Few skaters were
out yesterday, however, the low tenn
perature and Icy cold wind being too
much Tor any but the hardest and most
venturesome. The tidal basin ard the
; pond at the Zoo are both frozen over
the ice being several inches thick.
Record Low Temperatures.
Reports of record low temperatures
were received today from points as
widely separated as Glens Falls, N. r.
with temperatures Of 80 to 10 degrees
oeiow zero, and st. Augustine, Fla,
day.
The official low temperature reported
Tor yesterday was at Northfield. VI.
where the mercury showed 26 degrees
below zero Omctal temperature at Bos-
ton was ~ degrees below, while New
York reported 13 degrees below last
night. Both broke all December records
Of the local weather bureaus
Reports to the weather bureau
showed that zero Temperatures ex-
| tended as Tar south as Raleigh, N. G.,
| which is unprecedented for regions
that tar south. o"'
Suffering at Richmond Reported.
At Richmond intense suffering pre-
walls. the mercury having dropped 10 .
degrees below zero early Sunday morn
ing. this being the coolest weather ex.
perienced at the Virginia capital since
1888. According to Richmond adyfces
temperatures as low as 20 degrees he,
low have been reported from the
mountain section Of the state.
From every point in the grip Of the
extreme cold come reports of fnel
shortage. Suffering in the big citie.
OF the east is extreme. due to almost
total lack Of coal. Thousands Of New
york homes were reported to be abso.
lutely without fuel OF any kind ana
the same 10 true OF Boston. Phil.
delphia ad other cifies Richnond 10
day reported barely enough steam coal
for immediate needs.