Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-19
FIRST BIG SNOW
SINCE 1917 FALLS
Ardor of Christmas Shoppers
Unchecked-ChiIdren Go
in for Shedding.

Washington is today enjoying its
first real snowfall since the winter
of 1917
Beginning yesterday, and continuing
throughout the night, about two
inches of snow fell, covering the city
with a white mantle. and affording
the kiddies opportunity to use their
sleds
No serious delay was reported on
the various railroad lines leading into
the city. according to reports. West
ern and northern trains, however.
were somewhat delayed, but in the
majority of instances trains were run
ming on schedule time.
The thermometer fell to IS degrees
during the night. according to weather
recorded IS degrees. The forecaster
promises continued cold for the next
tWenty-four hours. There will not be
much more snow, 1t was SAID, al
though there may be rain, which
would freeze while passing through
the air
Children Enjoy Shedding.
On almost every hill in and around
the citJ children were shedding to-
day Veteran sportSmen polished up
the runners of their sleighs and by
tonight. it is expected. the merry
Jingle of sleighbells will be heard
on the Speedway and park drives.
The snow. however, prevented skating.
In the shopping district steady
stream of shoppers. their garments
covered with sprinkling of snow
and their arms filled with mysterious
looking parcels. filled the streets. A
real old fashioned sledge, drawn by
an antiquated fea-bitten gray horse.
was the subject of curiosity on the
mart of ? ShODDeES.
The dome of the Capitol doomed
against the skyline like gray
monastic while the statues in the
various parks and circles were en-
shrouded with a coat of white.
Supply of Trees Smaller.
Christmas trees and evergreens,
glistening with snow, were to be seen
at the markets and on some OF the
street corners Trees are selling at
from IS cents to $3.50. Dealers assert
they will be no higher in price than
they were last year unless something
unforeseen occurs" 1t was admitted,
however, that the supply of trees this
year is smaller than last year.
The weather bureau reported that
snow was falling today over most of
the middle Atlantic states. the Ohio
valley and the upper Mississippi val
ley. The storm was expected to ex-
tend into the New England region
The temperature has moderated
generally in much of the country east
of the Mississippi, but readings re-
main much below normal in the re-
gion of the great lakes, Ohio valley
and the middle Atlantic and New
England states.
Added JOY in Congress Heights.
'Tis big day for the boys and girls
of Congress Heights.
snowstorm is cause enough for
JOY with Christmas less than a week
off, but to be freed from school along
with it is like thrill that comes once
in lifetime. School officials had to
close the Congress Heights school
this morning because the janitor is
i'll and a substitute could not be found
to operate the heating plant.
Several of the portable school build
ings, erected to relieve congestion in
the regular buildings, were reported
too cold for occupancy yesterday, but
school officials explained that this re-
suited from failure to get the fires
started early enough in the morning.
II was explained that the stoves in
the portables furnish ample heat if
the fires are built up at Z o'clock in
the morning. The greatest difficulty
with the portables in winter, il was
said. is to keep them from becoming
overheated. None of the portables
were reported closed this morning.
No Interruption to Street Cars.
Today's snowfall failed to interrupt
or in any way disarrange schedules
on the city electric railway lines or
on the lines of the Washington-Vir-
ginia Railway Company, or the Wash
ington and Old Dominion Company,
running from Washington into Vir-
ginia.
S. r. Bowen. vice president of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, said that, with the eXcep-
ton of a plow pulled on a car run
ming down town on the 18th street
line of the company, car schedules
were not interrupted in any degree.
He said the companys snow plows
were out early this morning and had
succeeded in clearing the snow from
the tracks by the rush hour. There
was no interruption in the sub
urban traffic on the company's Mary
land lines.
]. H. Hanna, vice president of the
CAPITAL Traction Company, said that
no trouble was experienced on the
lines of the company caused by the
snowfall There was the usual num-
Der of pulled plows, he said. but no
more than normal. No wires are down
anywhere. and in no case has there
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