Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-05
THOUSANDS SPEND DAY
At SEAsHORE RESORTS
Estimated That 5000 Richmonders
Enjoy Fourth Of July Mt Points
Along Coast.
EXCURSIONS DRAW CROWDS
Railroads Make Ample Provisions to
Care for Holiday Travel, and Haul
Large Number of Passengers in
Orderly Fashion.

Fully 5000 Thermometers spent the
holiday away from homo yesterday.
according to estimates furnished last
night by local railroad men, who said
that the travel for the day had bcep
equally as heavy. II not heavier. thar
for the same day during the past five
years. While the city was deserted by
many of its residents. who seized the
opportunity Of spending a day or week
end away from home, there was a
large lumber of visitors to Richmond
from other cities.
Railroad stations were t~hronEed
with large crowds during the entire
day. Early yesterday morning crowds
move TO the stations from which reg
ular and special trains were being
operated to the scashorc resorts. and
every incoming train brought many
visitors. Special rates were placed in
effect by the railroads to Richmond.
as well as away from the city. which
proved Il great drawing card for one
day tourists. The two baseball games
at Boulevard Field likewise drew their
share of the visitors.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE
PROVIDED TO HANDLE CROWDS
Other days this week had proved un-
usually warm. and staid old Richmond
erS saw nothing that demanded that
they remain in the city for what would
probably prove n rccord-breaking
warm day, and days in advance had
planncd excursions. Several hundred
left on Tuesday afternoon and night,
iourneyinE TO Washington. Baltimore
and the seashorc resorts Of virginia
but the vast majority remained at home
until yesterday morning and then hur
ried to railroad stations. For their
comfort. the railroads provided spc-
cial trains and extra coaches on their
regular trains.
The Chesapeake and Ohio and the
Norfolk and Western Railroad Com
panies operated special trains to the
beach. in addition to their regular
early morning trains, and special holi-
day tickets had been placed on sale,
me nearby mountains also attracted
many visitors who could spend moro
than one day away from homes and
business.
The stations, both Main Street and
the Eyrd Street, we're rowde las
night when the crowd moved home
ward. returning to Richmond and other
sections of the State. Bathing enthusi-
asts were just returning 10 Richmond
when the visitors to the city were
leaving for their homes. and for n
snort While there was ii little conges-
ton around the terminals.
RAILROADS WE'RE PREPARED
TO MOVE EXCURSloNISTs
Railroad officials SAID that although
they had handled a large crowd. 1t was
unusually orderly, and had given them
practically no trouble. One onicia]
said:
We nave had probably the larges,
passenger movement to-day and to.
night of any Fourth of July in the
past four years. OF course. this was
caused by many reasons, the excellent
business conditions prevailing at this
tlfne. inc unusually warm weathe and
many other factors Th railroads AZ
perienced no difficulty in handling The
movement. for we had closely watched
the situation for several days and had
anticipated the demand that would be
made for equipment. Tho passengers
were we'll handled"