Evening star., 1948-01-24
Eight-|nch' Snow Expected Here,
Due to Stop About Midnight;
10 Deqrees New Low for Winter
Two Die on Icy Roads;
PIows Are Kept Busy
Clearing D. c. Streets
Picture on Page A-12.)

Y
Snow, which was expected to
reach a depth of 8 inches before
it stops about midnight tonight,
struck Washington early today
accompanied by winds up to IS
miles an hour and a new low
temperature for the winter of 10
degrees above zero.
Snow began failing shortly after
daylight and at noon was about 4
inches Deep At mid-morning snow
plows began working on the city
streets.
Two men died yesterday as re-
suit of ice conditions on District
area roads, and streets and high
ways, still slippery from light snow
which fell Thursday night, became
increasingly hazardous this morning.
Several persons were reported in
jured in falls.
Traffic was halted at National
Airport with flights delayed, can
celed or routed to alternate desti-
nations.
The latest forecast calls for the
snow to end tonight, with a low Of
II degrees.
The temperature was at 10 de-
grees at 7:58 o'clock this morning,
but was expected to rise to near Is
degrees by the afternoon. Tomor-
row will be fair but still below freez-
ing, the bureau said.
$50 PIows Available.
The District Sanitation Depart
ment, Capital Transit Co. and
United States Park officials COM
bined forces to man the $50 plows
available. William A. Xanten, head
of the sanitation department, re-
ported about 500 men at work and
the transit company also had the
same number out early this morning.
SWeeperS were sent out ahead of
streetcars to clear the tracks when
the snowfall began while gangs
worked to keep switches clear and
unfrozen.
Streetcar and bus transportation
began begging down by mid-morn-
ing although transit company Of
ficials said everything was still NOV
ing-although behind schedule.
Most of the delays were on the
streetcar lines, transit officials said.
A one-hour delay was reported at
Dupont Circle this morning when a
streetcar, struggling through the
storm. was disabled. Other loca-
tions experienced short delays.
Sanding of streets and slippery
hills, with a few exceptions, was
postponed by the sanitation de-
partment until the snow had a
chance to settle or be plowed. Police
closed off Florida avenue from
Eleventh to Fourteenth street NV.
to cut down the hazard to traffic on
the Thirteenth street hill near Cen
trail High School.
The American Automobile AsSo-
citation advised motorists not to
travel in Maryland or Virginia as
roads are becoming impossible with
snow drifted by the wind.
The AAA also said that there
was a one-to-two-hour delay on
road service for stalled cars be-
cause of the great number Of re-
quests for aid.
Man Dies Pushing Car.
The two men who died yesterday
as a direct result of ice on Wash
ington area highways we're Air Force
M/Sergt. Walter H. Arnston, 80, OF
so Williamsburg road, Alexandria,
and Benjamin F. Brown, 81, COL
ored, of 1920 Douglas street NE.
Sergt. Arnston, who was attached
to an Air Force unit at National
Airport, collapsed while trying to
push his stalled car from patch
of ice in the 2400 block of Duke
street, Fairfax County. His wife,
who was in the car, summoned aid,
but Sergt. Arnston was pronounced
dead of a heart attack at Alexan-
dria Hospital.
Mr.. Brown was killed when his
tractor trailer truck skidded on
Route 211 near Merrifield, Va, and
crashed into a concrete culvert. An
employe of the Safeway stores, he
was en- route here at the time of
the accident.
so Accidents on Streets.
In the city the light Saturday
traffic produced only few minor
accidents. Slippery streets were
blamed for about so accidents yes
terday afternoon and last night, but
there was no serious injuries re-
ported.
AS the temperatures stood at a
record low for the winter, area fuel
oil users were warned to make sup
plies last Is per cent longer.
Trains from the South were run
ming about 80 minutes late this
morning due to snow in Virginia.
Union Station officials said other
trains were running close to sched-
ule but, in view of the expected
snowfall, commented: ASK us
later"
The Virginia Highway Depart
ment pleaded with motorists to
take it easy" as arterial highways,
cleared after Thursdays snowfall,
were covered again today. Tired
working parties started their labors
over again. Secondary roads were