Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-18
HEAVY SNOW GIVES
TROUBLE TO j. S.
Would Be as Helpless as
Europe, Forecaster
Points Out.

Although the United States Is far
ahead of Europe in communication ia
cilities and in equipment to carry on
ordinary transportation during the cold
weather and the usual SHOWS, this
country would suffer as severely from
unusually severe snow falls as has Eu-
rope from the deep SHOWS and unusual
cold weather Of the past fortnight, &C
cording to Charles l.. Mitchell, forecas-
ter at the Weather Bureau.
Pointing to maps Of the bureau which
show unusually low temperatures and
extraordinarily heavy falls of snow over
much of the Middle West and West, Mr..
Mitchell said our transportation sys-
TENS would have trouble meeting the
situation which has faced Europe If
similar conditions existed here. when
snow falls beyond ordinary means of
clearing them blanket State or q
country, we are as helpless as any one"
Mr.. Mitchell said even though we
have gone beyond Europe in the mat
tiers of communication and clearing
away heavy falls Of snow"
Could Not Hear Signals.
Mr.. Mitchell declared this country
could not obtain weather reports from
France by the usual method of radio
communication during Europe's cold
weather. I'VE could not hear their sig
mails at ALL he said. But we we're
able to get through to the Navy vessel
Raleigh, which was stationed in the
Mediterranean, and which kept in con-
slant touch with us regarding the con-
ditionS on the Riviera and wherever re-
ports came from" Mr.. Michel said
that probably the extent of the cold
wave has been little more than outlined
because OF the meagerness of reports
from many places. I'VE get no reports
direct from Siberia and from many
parts of Russia" he said, because we
have no formal relations with the Soviet
states. We do not know how severe the
weather has been in Siberia or in many
parts OF the country north Of Vladi-
yostok. But 1t looks as II cold wave
from the Arctic has struck down on
both continents, for at about the same
tlme Europe was having its cold snap.
our Northwest and Western States were
in the grip of unusually cold weather. /"
Mr.. Mitchell produced a snow map.
showing snow to have fallen over a
very large portion of the country. even
falling in New Mexico and Arizona and
in most of Texas.
Washington Fortunate.
He said that Washington is fortunate
IN having all the facilities of the
weather Bureau at the call of the city
heads and directors of utility companies
VINO have the job Of clearing away snow.
During the Winter" he said, 1--WE are
called on the telephone twice q day
from the municipal government to find
out whether a snowfall is predicted !"
Mr.. Mitchell added that Washingtonians
generally do not appreciate the never
ceasing vigilance of the District govern
ment in Winter to be able to place all
emergency forces in readiness hours
before snowfall, and take steps to
remove the snow as quickly as possible
He recalled Washington's last big snow
fall, in 1922, when the roof of the
Knickerbocker Theater fell, and said
that equipment has been marshaled
now which would probably forestall the
virtually complete paralyzing of trans
portation which existed for hours at
that time.
Washington, he said, has been very
fortunate this year In not having been
in the path of the cold waves which
have struck many parts Of the country
and In not lying In the snow-covered
area. Some parts Of the Northwest
have had within a month Is different
cold waves, coming at short intervals
Fifteen such waves In the course of an
entire Winter Is the normal average, he
added.