Evening star., 1932-12-21
WARMER WEATHER
AIDS IN REMOVAL
OF LAST OF SNOW
EarIy-Morning Freeze Results
in Traffic Tie-up and
Minor Accidents.
BRIDGE SPAN FROZEN
OPEN OVER POTOMAC
Relief From Cold Wave Forecast
for Next Few Days-Rain
Due Tonight.

A current of warm air moved into
Washington from the South today to
aid the snow removal force in its task
of clearing the streets of the remnants
Of last Saturdays ll-inch snowfall
Despite the Weather Bureaus predic-
ton that Winters arrival would be
marked by higher temperatures for the
next "a hours, the Street Cleaning De-
partment kept a force of 1900 men at
work, removing snow from the down
town streets and opening snow-clogged
cutters. Five hundred of these men
were recruited from the ranks OF the
unemployed, and the others are regular
employees of the city refuse, sewer and
water departments.
Sub-freeZing temperatures during the
night coated the streets and highways
with thin sheet of ice and made trav-
cling dangerous. Only a comparatively
few minor accidents were reported. how
ever, due to the treacherous conditions.
Street Cars Tied Up.
There were several serious delays in
street car and automobile traffic be-
cause of the freezing temperatures after
Yesterdays mild thaw. Ice forming on
an open draw span on Highway Bridge
tied up traffic for more than Is minutes
this morning. while the frozen mech
anism was thaWed out and street cars
were stalled for about 40 minutes IN
the vicinity of the Congressional Ii
brary as a result of a frozen SWltcn.
The Weather Bureau indicated that
Washington can expect, for the next
few daVs at least, some relief from the
cold weather that has grlpped the East
ern seaboard for the last week. Troplc-
warmed breeZeS are destined to sweep
the Atlantic Coast States for "a hours
or more, but they will bring a ngnt
rain tonight and probably tomorrow
morning. s;-r
The temperature tonight, according
to the Weather Bureau, Will not lall
below % degrees. The minimum 1or
the last "a hours was ID degrees. re,
corded at am. today on the ofhclal
thermometer.
500 to Keep Jobs.
Although the weather has been mod
q. atino slowly ever since the snow
Storm. Government meteorolo2lStS point
cut thai It's effect has not been more
pronounced, Cue to the snow cover
which series to keep the atmosphere
cool
Engineer Commissioner Gotwals has
arranged to keep a SnoW-remoVal 1orce
at work indefinitely, although its size
weather conditions warrant. In any
event, the 500 men without regular
Jobs will be kept on the shovel brigade
as long as the snow remains. Commits
sioner Gotwals feels that these men
are desperately in deed of work, and
by keeping them employed shoveling
snow. the public will get the greatest
benefit from the emergency relief fund
which is being used to pay their wages.
The street car tie-up in the vicinity
of the Congressional Library kept the
cars stalled from Til to 1853 o'clock.
Cars on both lines-the Capital Trac-
ton and Washington Railway & Elec-
tric-were affected The frozen switch
was located at First and East Capitol
streets. 1t was thawed out and service
restored before the rush hour.
Frost and ice in the steel connecting
tongues of the Highway Bridge draw
span lammed traffic on both sides OF
the bridge shortly after 8 o'clock. The
span had been opened for a tug going
down the river. Workmen thawed the
frozen tongues with burning kerosene.