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o'clock, and the snow fell continuously until after midday, by
which time it covered the ground to a depth of from 6 to 8 inches.
Little could be done until the snow ceased falling, except
in the way of clearing the channels and crossings. The whole
staff of scavengers, supplemented by the paviours and 27
extra men, was kept at work until late in the evening.
By 9 o'clock, when the men ceased work, a space had been
cleared along the whole length of one side of Regent street
and Waterloo Place from Oxford street to Pall Mall, sufficiently
wide for a double line of traffic, the snow being
thrown into the centre and to the sides of the road. Unfortunately
a sharp frost followed, and the melted snow flowing
from the centre of the street over the cleared surface
speedily rendered the latter dangerous. Vehicles then
turned into the snow, scattering it over the portion of the
street which had just previously been cleared at considerable
labour. Owing to the state of the streets throughout London,
it was found impossible to obtain carts to remove the snow
until 7 o'clock, when the contractor put a number to work.
The following and two succeeding days, a large number of
men and more carts were obtained, but the alternate thaws and
frosts had caused the ice and snow to adhere so firmly to the
wood-paved streets as to render its removal exceedingly difficult:
the work of clearing the streets was thus considerably
impeded. Another difficulty presented itself owing to the
impossibility of obtaining shoots for the snow near at hand.
It may not be deposited in the parks, or thrown into the
river, and cannot be removed in any quantity through the
sewers; while the Parish being remote from river, canal, or
railwa frontages, or uncovered land, necessitated the carting
to some distance, thereby of course lengthening the process
of removal, especially as the roads to the shoot were snowed
up or difficult of access from other causes. As a temporary
measure, therefore, the snow was carted from the leading
thoroughfares and deposited in Waterloo Place and the Squares,
it being ultimately disposed of at shoots outside the Parish,