Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-20
COLD WAVE IS DUE
TOF0LL0W STORM
Temperature Below Freezing
viii Delay Removal of
SIush, Prediction.
WORST STORM OF WINTER
Scarcity of Accidents Marks Day of
Rain, Snow and Sleet-Kid-
dies Have Inning"

Washington'S first severe snow and
sleet storm CT the winter last night
brought worry to utilities corpora
tons, crowds of shivering unfortu-
mates to relief missions, smiles to the
visages of sled-owning youngsters
and anxiety to street cleaning de-
partment officials, sewer department
executives, motorists and pedestrians
In today's aftermath of slush, pro-
duced by the action of rain on snow
and sleet, Washington struggled to
work. Hardness resulted from taxed
tranSportationaI facilities.
The remarkable feature of the
storm, however, police stated today
was the scarcity of accidents and
property damage. Only a few minor
collisions were reported. The snow
last night and the slush today made
motorists careful, and sharpened the
caution of pedestrians.
Predicts - Degrees Tonight.
Telegraph lines to Chicago and
Pittsburgh were reported out of com
mission by both telegraph companies
ms morning, but business was routed
through Philadelphia and New York
relays satisfactorily.
Tonight Washington will face
e degrees, according to the weather
observatory. and tomorrow will be
1aIr, but with continued cold. This
IS expected to have the result of
freezing the slush to the streets for
d few days, at least
Almost three inches of snow fell.
and 1T was followed by a COATING. OF
Sieet. Then a comparatively warm
cloud spouted rain over the ice
snea,nea oianket of the city, with the
greet those who use the streets.
Busy Clearing Crossings.
Railroad schedules were thrown a
bit behind yesterday. especially in tbe
case of trains from the west. nv the
storm, but rail traffic was fast catch
ing up. to normally today. Little
trouble was experienced with tale
prone lines and electric conduits
The street cleaning department is
cooperating with the sewerage de-
partment today trying to get most of
downtown Washington's slush SHOW
eiea or washed into the sewers. While
Workmen are Shoveling it into man
holes another group of workers has
peen assigned the special duty NJ
clearing crossings
MOTHS Hacker. in charge OF street
cleaning. STATED that 500 men were
working on Slush removal in an 500
ttons OF the city, but that the street
snow pioWS were not being used be-
cause they would not be effective.
Press Trucks Into Service.
our men in the downtown seq
t!on. he said, ARE working on get
ins the snow into manholes and
sewers, Elsewhere cutters are being
ing slush may drain into the sewers.
mere II is impossible to use the
Anholes trucks of the street clean
away" " 'o'
he generation in knickers and mig
tails welcomed the snow as only chi
aren who have been denied this win
ter element can welcome it. Home
curfeW regulations in all sections Of
the city were suspended and late into
inc. night, until the rain broke nm
the sport. every white blanketed Hill
of the city had its quota of Yelling
screening, sliding. laughing Young
sters, and--no accidents were report
ed.
street car traffic this morning as
wen as bus transportation was taxed
10 capacity. possibly because of the
great number of motorists who left
tneir machines in the garages with
Eoodly quantities of alcohol keeping
their radiators from freezing. No Sc
we're tle-ups We're reported
River traffic was a bit slowed I'D il
was reported from harbor headauar-
Iers, out no serious difficulties were
encountered on the Potomac.
While boys and girls We're enjoyinc
themselves in the snow last night.
however. the beds at the Saliva ton
Army, Gospel Mission and Central
Union Mission were being filled up bv
1olkS which the same storm hit with
cruel intensity. Before midnight the
rescue houses were accommodating
capacity crowds of applicants for
shelter and many q warm garment
was handed out to those who were in
need.
NEW vORR,c yuOpcr cnoxr1