Evening star., 1925-01-27
DRIVERS BLAMED
IN TRAFFIC JAM
HeadIey Believes Confusion
at Auditorium Will Not
Occur Again.

While Washington was congratu-
lating itself today on the acquisition
of an auditorium and opera house as
magnificent as the new Washington
Auditorium proved to be last night on
the occasion of the presentation of
Faust" by the Washington Opera Com
pany, there was some anxiety today
lest the traffic congestion of the open
ing night might be of a recurrent
nature.
The fears were entirely dispelled,
however, by statements from Inspec-
tor Albert ]. Headley, director of the
Traffic Bureau, and of Robert ". Har-
per, president OF the auditorium cor
poration, to the effect that the con-
fusion OF drivers apparent last night
was to be expected in connection with
any such new traffic problem as was
presented with the convergfng of
nearly 1900 automobiles in a new
gathering zone
IF every driver had followed
strictly the instructions printed in
the papers, there would have been
no more congestion than ordinarily
must occur when so large an agRre-
CATION of cars arrive at a given point
at one time" Inspector Headley said
today. "Of course, there was some
confusion, with its resultant exasper-
ating delays, but on the whole my
traffic men on duty report that condi-
tions were as favorable as could be
expected.
Nineteenth street As one-way
street south, and out of 5000 cars
in the vicinity only one driver made
the mistake of going in the wrong
direction on that street He will have
to answer in court On Twentieth
street, which has two-way traffic,
some congestion was caused, l under
stand, by drivers pulling over into
the path of oncoming traffic. That
Is a serious offense, but it is almost
impossible to prevent drivers from
doing this.
THE conditions existing last night
are duplicated in many respects to
this day at large opera houses or
theaters in New York and other cities.
1t Is impossible for every automobile
to discharge its passengers at one
time under one or two porte cocheres
They must await their turn Nobody
likes to wait when In a hurry to see
a show and get seats, but there is
nothing else to do"
Takes Cause Delay.
Inspector Charles Evans, assistant
superintendent of police, who was in
personal charge of traffic control last
night, was forced on number of oc-
casions to divert traffic to different
entrances in order to relieve the con-
gestion Of cars at particular point.
AS the exigencies required, for in
stance, motorists intending to turn
west into e street from Nineteenth
street were instructed to continue
down to the New York avenue en-
trance. Similarly, traffic was divert
ed on Twentieth street at times.
Il was we'll pleased with the situ-
alton generally" Inspector Evans
SAID today. II am convinced that
when all the exits and entrances are
In use and the traffic arrangements
are thoroughly understood, there will
be no further trouble
The principal difficulty last night
arose when taxicabs fingered at the
entrances to allow patrons to pay
their fares. The right amount sell
dom was ready for the chauffeur, and
in making change he tied up scores
of cars behind him. Patrons of the
cabs could cooperate immeasurably
by having their correct fare ready
for the chauffeur when the destination
Is reached"
President Harper was receiving
congratulations from many sides to-
day on the success of the Auditorium
project. The excellent acoustics of
the big hall were the subject of es-
pecial comment. Despite the fact
that every one Of the 5000 seats in
the auditorium was occupied last
night, the galleries were empty six
minutes after the close of the per-
formance, Mr.. Harper was informed
by the fire marshal. In ten minutes
every person was out of the audito-
rum, it was stated. This was in
spite o fthe fact that four of the ex-
its on New York avenue were not
available last night because of the
incompletion of the walks on that
side.
When these exits are ready, Mr..
Harper said, the Auditorium can be
completely cleared within five or six
minutes under emergency conditions.
Mr.. Harper was particularly pleased
with the cooperation given the Au-
ditorium authorities by the Fire De-
partment and the Building Inspection
Department of the District Govern
ment Representatives of these
branches were on hand to give their
fnal approval when the last bit of
work had been completed just before
the opera was to egin.
Mr.. Harper said that he believes no
trouble will be experienced in the
future in handling vehicular traffic.
AS further aid in facilitating the
unloading of passengers he an
nounced that there will Q erected pro-
tective awnings on New York avenue
and q street.