Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-01-30
Walking And
Driving Are
Both Risky
Rain Freezes And
Shea+hs Country In
Heavy Coat Of Ice

Heavy Coat Of Ice
The ice-gIaze blenke+ing all
of Ohio since the early morning
hours Sunday was today deem
ed the worst this area Of the
country has experienced in
years. Both walking and driving
we're risky endeavors.
At least two London residents
were injured in falls ON the ice.
They were Ward Duffy, S. Walnut
St, and Mrs. Robert Barnes, n.
Main St.
Mrs. Barnes suffered a broken
elbow and Mr. Duffy lacerated
scalp.
Streets and sidewalks through
out London and all Madison Coun-
ty towns were glazed with ice.
At least one local resident, VEN
turing out Sunday afoot, accurately
described the condition, Its so
bad even the dogs can't stand up.
London youngsters found ice
skating and the use of sleds much
less difficult than walking. Some
pedestrians, attempting to 60 to
their respective church services
Sunday morning, were obliged to
turn back once they had tried
negotiating the sidewalks.
BY Monday morning the only
area reasonably safe for walking
was in the car-traveled street
where the danger from traffic
was probably more of a risk than
the slippery condition Of the side
walks.
Highway workers, as well rs
employees of the London street
department have been working
steadily to help alleviate the l.az-
ardous condition of the streets
and highways.
The dangerous condition of the
main highways throughout the
county forced the closing of Mad
ison County schools. according to
announcement from Supt. w. c.
Smiths office.
Snow Follows Ice
Snow began blanketing the
glaze of ice Monday morning as
the temperature declined thereby
increasing the dangerous condition
of the streets and roads.
Weather predictions, by radio
and press reports, billed this sec
ton Of the country for low tenn
pertures. One report predicted
four degrees above zero as the
frigid masses of air moved in from
the north.
Workmen from the State High
way Garage on the South Char
lesion Pike were cognizant Mon
day of the rough time" tire
weather has given them during
the winter months. One snow
after another has kept them on
the road the greater part Of the
last few weeks.
With traces Of the last heavy
snow still on the road sides THE
sleet storm began forming its
blanket of ice around 2.30 a m.
Sunday,
Use Salt and cinders
By 4 a. m, Oliver A. Barker,
Madison County Superintendent at
the barn and his men, were ready
to go into action. Five of the men
worked all night Sunday in ad-
dition to day duty.
Seven trucks worked all day
Sunday on National and state
Highways in the county and by
Monday morning approximately 10
tons Of salt had been used, prac-
tically exhausting the supply. Gin
ders and calcium were used after
the salt supply was depleted.
According to Mr.. Barker, Routes
40 and AZ are in fairly good shape.
Secondary roads are passable in
most places but driving is treach-
erous.
Several cars had gone off the
road into the ditch, he stated, but
no accidents of any consequence
We're reported.
Schools Closed
The sleet storm made il prac-
tically impossible to use the school
buses and the schools in the colln-
ty system remained closed Mon
day, according to Superintendent
Smith.
The temporary suspension of
classes in the county schools con-
cerned total of 1921 pupils who
attend the centralized schools.
Tn London, according to Snpf
J, ]. Hartley, schools opened as
usual with almost 4 100 per cent
teaching staff. Many students
akrnvnA