Evening star., 1948-01-03
Nation S Storms
Abate as East
Counts 16Dead
New York Escapes
Another Snowfall,
But Ice Grips Area
BY the Assoeiofed Press

~ NV $sSSSsSf1A
A week end of clearing weather
for the storm-swept Eastern
half of the Nation was in pros
pect today as communities
whipped by sleet, snow and rain
worked to restore business and
industrial operations to normal.
Snow had abated today in nearly
all sections of the country which
had been lashed by this winters
most destructive and crippling
storm.
Damage to property was expected
to total millions of dollars, while
the deaths of at least 16 persons
were reported in New England and
the New York metropolitan area.
Other fatalities attributed to the
storm were reported in the Midwest.
No New Storm in Sight.
The Weather Bureau reported
only snow flurries in parts of New
England and freezing drizzle in
sections of Ohio and Indiana.
There were no indications of new
falls of snow or rain Immediately
throughout the storm belt, which
stretched from the Texas panhandle
to the North Atlantic seaboard.
Temperatures in the Midwest
snow and ice belt were expected to
rise at or above the freezing mark
over the week end, while they were
expected to remain at about normal
levels in the East.
Hundreds of communities re-
manned without telephone or light
service, which was disrupted by
the swapping of wires from the
weight of ice or from the strong
winds which accompanied the storm
The break in power lines also left
thousands without heat or cooking
facilities. Railroad, motor and plane
travel also was disrupted, but was
returning to near normal in many
Midwest cities.
New York Escapes.
New York City, hit by the ice
storm, escaped a heavy snow fall
as the storm swept out to sea. How
ever, thousands in the Metropolitan
area suffered the discomforts of
darkness and cold from the icy siege
which hit the Nations largest city
one week after its record breaking
snowfall of 258 inches.
Still groggy from the impact of
the record snow, New Yorkers found
increased misery in the thick coat
ing of ice which has gripped the
city and its environs since Thursday.
The new peril darkened homes and
snarled heating systems as glaze
coated branches and trees collapsed
telling thousands of power lines.
New Jersey was so hard hit Gov.
Alfred E. Driscoll proclaimed a.
Statewide emergency. Cots, beds
and blankets were placed in 18l
State armories in the stricken
northern section to shelter FAM
lilies, left without heat or light,
and travellers unable to negotiate
hazardous highways.
Most Roads Sheets of Ice.
Most roads as well as through
highways leading into New York
City were sheets of ice. The Amer
ican Automobile Association warned
that attempting a lengthy trip
would be suicidal"
The Consolidated Edison Co. of
New York, Inc, estimated late yes
terday that $1,000 of its customers
in four city boroughs had their elec-
tricity cut off by the storm. Another
New York utility, the Staten island
Edison Corp, reported that at least
1000 consumers were without service
In "the worst sleet storm in years."
The public Service Electric & Gas
Co. of Newark, N. j., brought 200
linesmen from Southern New Jersey,
where most of the early part of the
storm fell harmlessly as rain, to the
besieged northern sections.
Towns in Darkness.
Throughout the entire storm belt,
communities were plunged into
darkness. Electric refrigerators were
off and electrically operated heat
ing units ceased functioning.
The Weather Bureaus promised
reprieve came a few hours after
an earlier report that a new snow
storm was swirling toward the met
ropolitan area. About four -tenths
of an inch fell on the city yesterday.
The New York Stock Exchange,
the Curb Exchange and the Cotton
Exchange suspended todays busi-
ness because of the storm condi-
tions. The Chicago and Boston
Stock Exchanges also were closed
today.
New England Has IA Deaths.
The New England area reported
IA deaths attributed to the storm,
which was the third in II days
and added from l to feet of snow
already on the ground All planes
were grounded and highway driving
was reported extremely hazardous
Ten deaths were reported in Massa-
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