Evening star., 1934-02-26
Two Sources Charge Heavy
Blanket Is Being Allowed
to Delay Traffic.
PL0WED OFF TRACKS,
SHIFTED BACK AGAIN
Auto Association and Traction
Company Complain of
Conditions.

A 6i2-inch snow, which started
falling at 2:45 am. Sunday, blanketed
Washington today and shortly after
thousands of workers had struggled
through stalled transportation sys-
tenn to their jobs. the municipality
found itself under fire from two
sources for the slow job it is doing in
getting the city streets clear.
The District branch of the Amer
lean Automobile Association In
statement released to the press said
that, although not caught unawares,
the city had failed to prepare ade-
quately to clear the streets with the
first warning and sign Of the ap-
preaching blizzard"
A statement released by the Capital
Transit Co. pointed out the city made
no effort to clear snow from public
highways over which busses travel and
that this work had to be undertaken
oy the company without assistance.
Pushed Back and Forth.
On street car tracks. the statement
said, after the company's sweepers
had pushed the snow Is feet from
the outer rail. the city forces had
failed to remove it. Owing to the low
temperature. the snow did not melt.
but retained its granular consistency
and, the company charged. automobile
traffic simply pushed the snow back
onto the tracks.
Meanwhile. the District decided to
throw into the snow removal work
men from the sewer. water and high
way departments, and at the same
time to seek more money for snow
removal. its current funds having
been practically depleted. Additional
District appropriations will be sought
for the refuse division and efforts
will be made to obtain an allotment
Of c. w A. funds from Harry L. Hop
kins. Federal relief administrator. BY
adding men from other departments,
force of approximately coo men was
rounded up and put to work clear
ing the streets.
Snow Stops Before Noon.
The snow had stopped by noon. and
the forecast for tonight and tomor-
row is fair and colder"
Shortly before noon heads Of sey-
eral Government departments an
nounced if the snowfall continued
workers would be allowed to 60 home
early
There will be strong northwest
winds tonight, diminishing tomorrow.
The mercury clung close to 10 and 30
degrees last night, never getting be-
low 10. AT m. today it mad strug-
gled up to 20, but by 10 o'clock it had
sunk back to 10.
The Weather Bureau explained
much of the snow had fallen in the
form of sleet. which packs closer than
ordinary snow and, therefore does
not show up on the records as being
very deep. But for the sleet. the
reading would have been several
inches higher. it was said
The temperature is expected to drop
to 10 degrees tonight. but for tomor-
row the promise is for slowly rising
temperature.
The snowfall for February to date
1879 inches. is still far below the
record of 35.2 inches which covered
the city ir 1899. In fact, difficult
as it may be TO believe there has
ben actually less snow this Winter
than last. This year the snowfall
has amounted to PA inches in all.
as against 23.8 inches for the entire
Winter of l932-l933.
In spite of the efforts of the munic-
ipality and the Capital Transit Co.
snow blocked the traffic lanes and
in some places stopped traffic alto
gether.
400 Work on Car Lines.
The street car company had be-
tween 400 and 500 men out working
all last night and about the same
number or more today, clearing street
car and bus routes. Thirty-six
sweepers and "a scrapers were used.
in addition to men clearing switches
and crossings.
The snow, drifting into the under
ground slots, was pushed by plows
against the conductor bars, result
ing in many short circuits and tying
up long lines of street cars on Four
teenth street. Connecticut avenue,
Pennsylvania avenue and other lines.
AuUOUlODlI6 JIdlIlC was very SlOW III
the District Long lines of cars crept
along the main highways. BY con-
trast the main traffic arteries in
Northern Virginia were practically
clear, and bus lines were operating on
schedule.
Several Injured Here.
The snow brought with it the Gus
tomary quota of accidents from falls
and traffic accidents.
Mary Robson, 80, of 1909 M street,
slipped and fell on the ice in the
yard at her home yesterday, fractur-
ing her left arm. She was treated
at Georgetown University Hospital.
John Houghton. l9, 100 Fifth street
northeast, was treated at Casualty
Hospital for a severe head injury
and minor cts and bruises when an
automobile in which he was riding
slid into a car parked in front OF
1855 Bladensburg road northeast this
morning.
The automobile, driven by Earl A.
Johnson, 18, of 724 F street north
east, turned out Of the path of an
approaching car to avoid collision
Continued on PAGE 2. Column A.