Rain Saturday Night Made Traffic Unsafe. Many Cars In Ditch.

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GROUND HOG FAILS TO SEE HIS SHADOW

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Early Spring Is Assured If Old Omen Is At All Reliable.

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During the past two weeks the thermometers in New Ulm have almost been put “on the blink”, registering as low as 22 degrees below zero one day and within a space of a comparatively few hours the mercury raced to 38 degrees above the zero mark. The rain storm of Saturday evening raised havoc in this city as far as traffic was concerned but the kids–both big and little–rather enjoyed the slick surface which had coated the streets, and roads and wrapped Old Mother Nature in a sparkling coat of ice. After the period of changeable weather Tuesday, ground hog day, dawned dark and grey and the fuzzy little fellow couldn’t begin to see his shadow. The reign of old King Winter is about over and New Ulmites will soon be able to put away the coal shovel and get out the rake and hoe and lawn-mower for Spring promises to arrive early.

Temperatures Vary

Observances taken by official weather observer Alex Henle show that the temperatures during the week of January 20 to the 26th varied from fifteen degrees below to one degree above. On the 27th the winds shifted around to the north and the cold breezes took the temperature down to ten degrees below. The following day, the 28th, was the second coldest day we have experienced in New Ulm this winter, when the thermometer showed 22 degrees below. On December 26th, it was 25 degrees below and has been the coldest day we have had this season. Saturday the weather took a change for the better and the thermometer reached 38 degrees above, making a change of almost 60 degrees, the previous day having registered 10 degrees below. The mild weather of Saturday ended in a rain and sleet storm which lasted for several hours.

Cars Stalled In Ditch

People from out of town who had come to New Ulm to do their shopping and to attend the evening shows were afraid to start for home, remembering the climb up the Loretto hospital hill or the college hill which would be necessary before they could take the trail for home. The iced surface on the roads on either hill was as smooth as glass and a report tells of ten cars standing in the ditch at the bottom of the hospital hill wondering what course to take, while ten cars at the top of the hill hesitated about coming down the glazed incline. After some deliberation sand and gravel was thrown on the road and the cars were able to go on their way. Little or no damage was sustained by owners of the cars when their automobiles slid into the ditch. They had to be pulled out again and were thankful that no serious accidents had resalted.

No Damage Done

Manager L. A. Mills of the Rural Telephone Company reports just one line out and the service at the Electric Light and Service Station was unimpaired. Two street lights were out but that could be the result of ordinary causes.

Sunday morning the skaters of New Ulm had a glorious time skating up and down the streets and the youngsters with their sleds were being pulled about the city streets hooked on the back of cars.

The street commissioner, John Domeier and his assistants were out before daylight spreading sand on the streets so as to make walking safe for pedestrians. The walks down the hill to the Northwestern and M. & St. L. depots and other popular thorofares in the city were given attention first and the men worked all thru the day in an endeavor to complete their task. Shortly after six o’clock Sunday evening it started to snow and continued for a period of hours. The light snowfall made traveling easier and people could walk safely the next morning. The weather during the first part of the week has been mild with cool breezes from the northwest. Snow this morning lasted only a short time and today the sun is struggling thru the masses of grey clouds which would hide its smiling face and deprive the world of its warming rays.

Other than the inconvenience of the icy walks and streets Saturday evening and Sunday, nothing serious has resulted from the freakish act of nature. Many folks skated right side up and up side down but it is all in a life time and some black and blue spots are all that remain to remind them of the grand “spill”‘ they took. Reports show that the rain of Saturday was general in the southwestern section of Minnesota.

New Ulm Review,

Feb. 3, 1926

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