Evening star., 1932-12-18
Increased Demands for Re.
! lief Arise-Transit Sys-
tenn Crippled.
(Continued From First Page.)

Inc transportation systems Gid not
begin to feel the effect of the storm
until. about 8 o'clock in the morning,
but from that time until late last night
cars were tied up sporadically on virtu-
ally every line in the District. The
trouble was caused by plows catching
in the ice-coated underground slots and
automobiles packing snow on the rails.
Cars of the Fourteenth street line
were tied up for an hour during the
afternoon because the slippery condi-
ton of the rails prevented safe ascen-
sion of the grade north of Florida ave-
nue., Northbound traffic on the Chevy
Chase line of the Capital Traction Co.
was tied up two hours when car
jumped the track at Porter street.
Automobiles stalled by the scores last
night.
A. A. A. Answers $50 Calls.
The American Automobile Association
responded to calls for aid from approxi-
mately $50 motorists. These calls
showed the progress of the storm. In
the morning most Of the motorists
could not start their cars. The ma
jority of calls In the afternoon were
from drivers seeking assistance in put
ting on chains and last night virtually
all of the calls came from motorists
who were stalled in the snow.
Automobile drivers unable to climb
the grade on Connecticut avenue, north
of Florida avenue, caused a serious
jam early in the afternoon.
Welfare agencies supported by the
Community Chest worked on an enter
gency basis to provide food and fuel
for needy families. The principal calls
were for fuel
All the Distinct Offices Of the Asso-
ciated Charities were kept open beyond
the regular closing time. The Catho-
lie Charities and the SsSfation Army
also worked overtime.
Fuel for Sick Fabailies.
In view of the emergency, drivers of
coal trucks maintained deliveries late
into the night, and some of them pre-
pared to work all night Sickness in
a number Of families made the situa-
ton acute. and these were the first
supplied with fuel.
The missions and shelters, however,
we're not as overtaxed as anticipated,
since many Of the man who seek re-
lief at these places earned money
shoveling snow in front of private homes
and purchased meals in restaurants.
Adjt. Gilbert Decker Of the Salvation
Army said there had been few appn-
cants for aid. and that the emergency
home had accommodations for all who
applied
At the Central Union Mission, 4s8
men were fed, which is about the aver
age number for a Winters day. Con-
tinued cold weather. however, is ex-
pected to add to the gravity OF the
situation.
Director Gordon reported after re-
Vyiou-irO ho daN
of intensive operations that clearing of
the thoroughfares was well in hand"
With full day Of progress. freed Of
the weekday handicap Of the traffic
congestion and automobile parking Of
the downtown workers and shoppers,
Mr.. Gordon said he believed the major
streets would be shipshape by Monday
morning, barring an unforeseen con-
dition.
The snoWstorm. though adding to
the distress of the destitute families Of
the city, provided temporary work for
300 unemployed who were on the rolls
Of the Emergency Relief Committee,
and it was expected more would answer
the call to work today.
There are about $500 men on these
lists of unemployed and thus there are
1,700 potential workers who may enlist
in the snow-removal work today in
addition to the 800 enrolled yesterday.
Mr.. Gordon's last official tabulation,
made at the close of the regular day
yesterday, showed that there were 1914
laborers at work then. He expected
some additional men would report later.
The men are being worked about 8
hours day and some were on the job
until midnight.
Expect Effective Work Today.
In addition to the labQrers. the Dis
trict yesterday employed 142 manned
trucks, 43 snow plows and 7 snow
leaders in the work. In addition to this
equipment, the street car companies
kept their snow sweepers in operation,
covering tracks at frequent intervals.
With traffic expected to be at .
minimum today, due to the Sabbath and
the difficulty Of travelling District off,
cials expected that more effective work
would be accomplished by their army
of workmen.
Pay for the snow-cleaning force was
expected to come from two sources.
Those workmen recruited from the
ranks Of the unemployed, on the rolls
of the Relief Committee, may be paid
out of funds of the Emergency Relief
Committee, some officials anticipated
The workmen drawn from the roster
of the per diem force of the District.
assigned to the refuse, water and sewer
departments, were to be paid out of the
funds of the street-cleaning appropria-
ton. This depletion Of these funds. it
was expected, would result in the sub
mission to Congress of deficiency ap-
preparation item to cover the total.
The extra force of men, Mr.. Gordon
said. are not being paid daily. but
y,rpha I11y would Yoraiva thoir uyo voYf
Saturday.
The emergency Snow-removlng work
would cost between $4,000 and $4,000
a day, Mr.. Gordon estimated. on the
basis of the 1000 men at work yesterr
day evening, and making an allowance
for the cost Of operating the motor
equipment.
Members of the unemployed on the
temporary snow-cleaning force were to
be paid 35 cents an hour under arrange
ments yesterday. The regular District
per diem men are to receive $3.50 a
day.
r. Hanson Weightman, Weather Bu-
reau forecaSter, took occasion last night
to compliment the District on the ef-
ficient manner in which it attacked the
problem of making the downtown streets
passable.
The snowstorm created the first test
for Mr. Gordon as commander Of the
snow-removal army, an operation di-
rected by other District officials. When
the Engineering Department Of the Dis
tr1ct government was reorgantzed last
February the city refuse division, head.
ed by Morris Hacker. was placed under
the supervision Of Mr.. Gordon as di-
rector Of the Department Of Sanitary
Engineering.