Evening star., 1933-04-09
THOUSANDS DRAWN
by CHERRY BLOOMS
Blossoms Are at Best Today.
Visitors May Reach
100000 Mark.
In full glcry, Washington's cherry

In full glory, Washington's cherry
blossoms are at their best today.
Drawn here by this spectacle of ORR
entail petals are great throngs of visitors
and thousands of motorists will travel
around tine Tidal Basin in Potomac
Park today to view the pageantry of
Old Japan. Officials were hesitant at
giving an estimate of the number of
sightseers anticipated, but it was placed
unauthoritatively near the 100000
mark. y
The Weather Bureaus forecast for
today was partly cloudy and somewhat
warmer"
It was explained. however, that there
probably would be no lack of sunshine
to add to the charm of the festival.
Frank T. Gartside, chief of the park
division Of the Office of Public Buildings
and Public Parks, said last night that
the single blossom variety OF Japanese
cherry trees, found mostly around the
Tidal Basin-although there are few
in. East Potomac Park, not far from
Hams Point-will be robed in pink and
white blossoms With favorable weather,
the blooms will last during this week
and probably over Easter Sunday al
though the pink Of baby buds will turn
to the snow-white OF ages boards, as
the week wears on, Mr. GartSide said.
High winds and beating rains would
spell the doom of the frai pageantry.
the park chief said.
10000 Due by Rail.
Railroads, bus lines, planes and
steamboats,, as well as private automo-
biles were bearing their thousands into
the Capital for cherry blossom Sun
day." the day Christian churches OBJ
serve Palm Sunday. Union Station Of
ficials asserted last night that excur-
sion trains from practically every
where" are due to arrive today at the
Washington terminal. The oficials set
tentative figure of 10000 excursion
lists coming into the city today by rail.
was very good" and other forms of
transportation had similar reports.
The American Automobile AsSOcia-
ton, in keeping with its custom, yes
terday afternoon placed signs on the
important streets of the city, with ar
rows pointing the best way to the
Tidal Basin and the cherry blossoms.
Omcials OF the organization said far
greater number of motor visitors is an
ticipated for Easter Sunday, judging by
the number of inquiries at headquar-
ters here.
Inquiries this year, they said, far out
number those of previous years, the
officials explaining that the cherry trees
are increasingly publicized in the news
papers and by radio, as well as in the
magazines of special interest to mo-
torists. The association was unable to
make an estimate of the number of
autoists likely to pour into the city.
Last year a count made by park
police showed there were 26,522 auto
mobiles attracted to the Tidal Basin
at the peak of the blossoms.
Traffic Plans Made.
Today, as ON similar occasions In the
past, special traffic arrangements will
prevail. Capt. P. j. Carroll of the
United States Park Police will mar
shal a force of SO men, to be on duty
from 8 am. until nightfan. Traffic
will travel clockwise around the Tidal
Basin. The main point of entry will
ee at the foot of Seventeenth street,
turning left at the John Paul Jones
Continued on Page 2, Column g.