Evening star., 1947-12-26
Snow Is Melting
After 3-|nch Fall
Blankets City
Thousands of Workers
Late in Traffic Jam;
Ice Still Hazardous

washington S urSJ gTOuIlQ-COV-
ering snow of the season, a
3-inch fall that impeded work.
bound traffic this morning, was
melting this afternoon under a
bright sun.
Thousands of persons were late
for work as buses and other vehicles
were slowed almost to a standstlu
at the peak of the morning rush.
By noon all busses were operating
on normal schedule, Capital Transit
Co. officials said.
William A. Xanten, Superintend-
ent of the District Refuse Division,
said the sun had cleared most of the
north-south streets but many east
west streets will be ice-coated and
hazardous tonight despite continued
sanding operations.
Snow Began Last Night.
Most of the children and many of
the sentimental groWnups who had
yearned for white Christmas were
in bed when the flakes began falling
at 1882 o'clock last night. They
awoke to find hills designed for sled
ding and streets that soon became
treacherous under the steady grind
ing of wheels.
By 7 am, when the back-to- work
push began for Christmas cele-
brants. vehicles of all types were
finding the going tedious. The
Capital Transit Co. said all Of its
bus lines ran into trouble and some
were stalled upward of half an hour
forcing passengers to alight and
shift as best they could.
Mr.. Xanten said the worst of the
traffic problem appeared to end this
morning when the snowfall stopped
Bad Conditions Expected.
However, the forecast of 38-degree
temperature this afternoon, followed
by temperatures ranging from 18 to
Is degrees tonight, gave warning OF
dangerous streets tonight.
Traffic accidents were kept to a
minimum by cautious driving by
motorists and bus operators. The
latter in many cases refused to move
their heavy vehicles down icy hills
before sand was applied.
The Districts snoW-fghting ap-
paratus, under the direction of Mr.
xanten, began moving into action
about midnight.
His chief problem was rounding
up street-clearing personnel at ar
early hour just after holiday, but
by 7 am. he had 81 trucks sand
ing the streets. He called on equip
ment and help from the sanitation
sewer, highway and water divisions
Early this morning, when the
worst appeared to be over, Mr.. Kan
ten released 100 men of the garbage
collecting detail who had been
standing by. Garbage trucks are
equipped with ploWs during a snow
fall emergency.
500 Extra Men on Job.
Capital Transit Co., also began
calling in extra men with the falling
Of the first fakes. At least 500 extra
men were on the job before the snar
was untangled, some of them man.
ming 18 trucks which Sanded hills
used by buses and others operating
gasoline burners to keep switches
open at key points.
Streetcars were kept moving at al
times with the aid of four sWeeperS
but the service necessarily was
slower. Extra cars were put on the
lines to help keep them open.
One of the tightest traffic snarls
developed on Nichols avenue Sc.
on the hill between Anacostia anc
st. Elizabeth's Hospital.
Buses Wait for Sanding.
BY the time heavily loaded buses
began their downward runs doWr
the hill, the street was glazed with
a coat of ice. Rather than risk
accidents, the drivers stopped theil
machines, giving passengers the
choice of waiting for sanding
truck to improve the hill or OF
getting to town the best way they
could.
Most elected to begin walking anc
many we're picked up by buses
running as far as Anacostia. The
abandoned buses were returned tC
a .