Evening Star Newspaper, March 5, 1933, Page 72

STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C,” MARCH 5, isss. Next Inauguration Will Be Held in Dead of Winter Bugaboo of Inaugural Weather Wi ill Be Real Cause of Concern in the Future, Now That the Date of Ceremonies Has Been Changed From March Four to January Twenty. BY REX COLLIER. HAT ancient bugaboo of Presidents and plain people, “inaugural weather” —a term that has come to mean Wintry inelemency in its most dis- agreeable forms—threatens to con- ‘ tinue its reign of depredation, despite the change in inaugural date just ratified by constitutional amendment. The bogey began to take shape about the time of the Civil War. Before that most of our Presidents had been inducted beneath smiling skies. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Jack- son, Ven Buren, Taylor and Buchanan were grected by favcrable inaugural weather, ex- cept that Monroe's second inauguration was marred by snow and rain. William Henry Harrison had a foretaste of changing conditions in 1841, when the weather on March 4 was cold and rainy. Polk, four vears later, was buffeted by a cold rain as his carriage plowed through the deep mud of Pennsylvania avenue on his way to the Capitol. Pierce, in 1853, was the victim of a raw wind and slush, Lincoln started the post-war epidemic of poor inaugural weather when he took office for the second time in 1865. ~ Thereafter it became almost a foregone conclusion that March 4 of each inaugural year would bring snow, sleet, rain or frigid gales and a wave of coughs, colds and pneumonia. And row that the inaugural date has been changed from March 4 to Jaruary 20 the pros- pect, according to meteorologists, is for even worse treatment from the unruly elements. Lame ducks, and not the weather, constituted the majcr consideration of Congress and the State Legislatures in agreeing on a new date for Presidents to take officc. Had weather been the dominating factor, the latter part of January never would have been chosen, of course. RECORDS of the Weather Bureau show that some of Washington’s worst snowstorms and cold waves have occurred in January, chiefly toward the latter part of the month. There was the so-called Knickerbocker storm in 1922, for example, when the snowfall was 28 inches—an all-time record. The next to the lowest temperature ever known here, 14 degrees below zero, was recorded in January of 1881. Zero temperatures or lower have been registered 15 times in January—more than in any other month, The average temperature for January 20 is about 6 degrees lower than the average for March 4. The average snowfall for the month of January is approximately 7 inches, as com- pared to 4.3 for March. The percentage of clear days in January is 47, as compared to 57 per cent in March, January will have to struggle hard to beat the March record for miserable inaugural weather, however. Fearsome though its repu- tation may be, January will find it difficult to equal or exceed conditions such as prevailed during the inauguration of Grant in 1873, of Cleveland in 1893 or of Taft in 1909. Grant's first inauguration, like Lincoln’s sec- ond, was rainy and muddy, but the general’s secand inaugural day has never been equaled for cold. On March 4, 1873, the temperature dropped to four degrees above zero, while a howling wind added to the suffering. The Star, in an editorial the next day, com- mented: “In the memory of the oldest in- habitants there has not been before such a freezing March fourth, and when the cold was so severe as to cause soldiers to drop in the ranks from its eflects, and under the moonday sun at that, it was not within the reach of pos- sibility that at night a temporary hall, 350 feet long and 75 feet high, could be warmed to the point of comjort for ladies in their costumes of the ball room.” The inaugural ball that year was held in a large wooden structure erected in Judiciary Square. As The Star’s editor remarked, heat- ing it was out of the question. The women danced with their wraps and furs tightly drawn about their shivering, silk-sheathed forms. The gentlemen who escorted them kept on not only their overcoats and woolen muf- flers, but also, is many instances, their top hats. To have bared one’s head to the frosty cold of the hall would have been to invite one’s death of pneumonia, it is recorded. Huddled pitifully on the rafters above were scores of canaries. The birds had been released in the bellef they would sing merrily during the fesiivities and thus add to the gayety of the evening. Not a peep was forthcoming during the ball, however., The musiclans had great difficulty in playing their instruments, due to nipped fingers and cold lips. When it came time to partake of the re- freshments the guests found the sandwiches partly frozen and the punch too cold to drink. Fortunately, there was coffee, but the demand for the steaming beverage was so great that few could get near enough to the tables to secure a cup. F Newspapers reported that several hundred persons were made ill as a result of exposure during the hectic day and evening, but nc mention appears to have been made at the time of any movement to select another in- augural date. HE agitation for a change in date appacrently began in 1901, following the second inau- guration of McKinley. March 4 of that year brought a cold, drenching rain that chilled spectators to the bone and precipitated a wava of sickness. The deaths of Senator Bates of Tennessee, Ambassador Azpiroz of Mexico and Judge Weldon of the Court of Claims were attributed to the soaking these officials re- ceived during the induction ceremonies at the Capitol. A group of public-spirited citizens, headed by H. B. F. Macfarland, formed a national organization to campaign for another date. The group succeeded in obtaining support of a number of influential men on Capitol Hill. A bill was drawn up proposing April 30 as the inaugural date, and Senate twice passcd the measure. The legislation died in the House. and the movement was almost forgotten for eight years. Then came the memorable Taft inauguration O:d lIDOD—md was the weather forecaster's face red! Prof. Edward B. Garriott of the Weather Bu- reau, in a special forecast featured on the front page of The Star on March 3 under the head, “Fine Weather Tomorrow,” said: “There is every indication that tomor- row will be Jair and a little cooler than today. The temperature will be about 40 degrees. This will give splendid marching weather, After showers this ajfternoon the storm clouds will disappear by mid- night. Generally fair conditions are pre- vailing in the West.” What happened is history. Out of the night there came an unheralded blizzard-like snow and - sleet storm that leveled telegraph poles across the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad tracks between Washington and Baltimore, crippling transportation and communication {facilities, and that piled Pennsylvania avenue high with snowdrifts. 8Six thousand men were put to work on the Avenue before daylight, and they removed 58,000 tons of snow from the Nation's parade ground. ‘The shovelers still were at work when the inaugural procession—or as much of it as had reached Washington—passed down the street between banks of snow and sleet, while shivering spectators beat their hands and stamped around in an effort to keep warm. Taft was compelled to take the oath of office inside the Senate chamber. Many of thé marching units were stalled on trains out- side of the Capital and did not reach the city until the next day. The weight of sleet on wires and poles, coupled with the raging winds, razed thousands of poles, which fell across the railroad right of way. It was a week or more before communication lines were completely restored to service. The weather man had to do a lot of ex- plaining. Heavy Winter weather marks the Taft inauguration as the parade moves down snow-banked Pennsylvania avenue. Prof. Garriott issued the following state- ment: - “It seems that about every four years the forecast is bound to go wrong. We used our best judgment in making the prediction yester- day, but the fickleness and utter unreliability of the month of March were ¢against us.” The forecaster explained further that the storm was a flareback from a northwest dis- turbance 4hought to have passed off to sea. On the afternoon of March 3 it started rain- ing, just as Prof. Garriott had predicted, but it didn't stop. About 9 o'clock that night the rain turned to snow. When the snow began the White House made an inquiry of the Weather Bureau, and Prof. Willis Moore, chief of the bureau, reassured the White House, in- sisting that the skies would clear shortly. Prof. Moore, in supporting revival of the movement to change the inaugural date, an- nounced: “A good reason for a change is that our bu- reau can forecast with a fine degree of accuracy every day in the calendar except March 4. It would be far better to have the inauguration day in the middle of January than in the first part of March, because weather conditions are more constant in January, and while it might be colder, there would be less liability of snow or rain and bad marching conditions. The first day of May is the ideal time, however.” Prof. Moore's statement about the prospect of less snow or rain in January does not jibe with official statistics. A study of the records made a few years ago shows that there are an average of four snows in January, as against two in March. Forecaster Mitchell recently said that January’s colder temperatures are more likely to be accompanied by snow or other “unpleasant” weather conditions. FTER the 1909 debacle there was another and stranger cry for the fixing of a differ- ent date for presidential inaugurations. Reso- lutions were passed, editorials were written and bills were drafted. But once again interest waned as the weeks passed—and nothing was done about it. Before the Civil War the inaugural date was not a subject for debate. . Of course, Pennsyl- vania avenue, more often than not, was muddy on March 4—but mud in those days was con- sidered a necessary evil, even in April or May or later. Ususlly the fine uniforms of the re- splendent marching units were splattered with great splotches of mud by the time the parade had arrived up the muddy slopes of Capitol Hill, but that was to be expected in the days of unpaved roads and stomping horses. Washington was inaugurated first on April 30, 1789, in New York City, and fine Spring weath- er prevailed. His second inauguration took place on March 4, 1793, in Philadelphia, and again the skies were kind. Washington became the inaugural city for the first time when Adams was inducted in 1797. Then, and each four years thereafter until Monroe's second inauguration in 1821, the weather was clear and not too cold. Snow marred the 1821 cere- monies, but another period of good weather followed until Willlam Henry Harrison took office in 1841, when it was rainy and cold. Polk, four years later, also had a wet, cold day, but Tayior was blessed with a warm, sunny day that smacked of Summer. There was a near-blizzard, with snow, slush and a biting northwest wind when Pierce was sworn in in 1853, and the inaugural ball was called off. Buchanan and Lincoln had good days in 1861 and 1865, respectively, but Line coln’s second inaugural day was a poor one, Grant, in 1869, was besieged with rain and in 1873 by the cold wave, previously described. Hayes, in 1877, met with rain and Gerfield, in 1881, was subjected to a snowstorm. Cleve= land, in 1885, had a clear day, but a rainstorm deluged Harrison's ceremonies in 1889. Cleveland’s second induction in 1893 was the signal for the unleashing of z:nother snowstorm of extreme severity, which left a trail of colds and more serious ills. McKinley became Chief Executive in 1897 be- neath clear skies, but a cold rain dampened the enthusiasm of the crowds which hailed his second inauguration in 1901. It was a cold day when Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presi= dency in 1905 and four years later came the aforementioned Taft blizzard. The weather was cloudy and mild for Wil son’s first inauguration in 1913, and cloudy and cold for his second, in 1917. A cold wave made Harding and his public shiver in 1921, but Coolidge took the oath at the Capitol in 1925 under a warm sun. Hoover's inaugura- tion was spoiled by a driving, cold rain that whipped under the canopy erected on the east front of the Capitol and beat upon his face as he read his inaugural address. History of Imauguwral Weather. Washington, April 53U, 1789 (N.Y.)...... Good Washington, March 4, 1793 (Phila ...Good Adams, o 1797 Jeffersen, £ Jefferscn, Madison, Madison, Monroe, Monroz, J. Q. ‘Adams, Jackson, Jackson, Van Buren, W. H. Harrison, “ Polk, ‘Taylor, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoin, Lincoln, Grant, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley, McKinley Roosevelt Taft Wilson Wilson Harding Coolidge Hoover