Evening star., 1934-12-16
|bO0M YEAR CROWD
THRONGSSTORES|N
|YULE BUYING RUSH
Weather, Federal Pay Day
and Nearing Holiday
Create Crush.
TRAFFIC TOO MUCH
FOR POLICE SQUADS
Vehicles Snarl-Few Cases of
Shoplifting Reported-F
Street Is Jammed.

A crowd which merchants said was
by far the largest since boom years,
and perhaps the greatest for decade,
jammed Washington stores yesterday
afternoon, jostled and pushed its way
along streets, tied traffic in snarls and
brought CONSERVATION to police and
JOY to Storekeepers.
F street was a solid mass Of hu-
manity from Fourteenth to Seventh
streets at the height of the rush be-
tween 1870 and $3.50. At several Of
the large department stores on F and
Seventh streets, shoppers had to wait
to enter, SO dense was the crowd.
Fair weather, cool but not too cool.
Government pay day and the nearness
Of Christmas combined to bring out
the shoppers.
Returning prosperity was evidenced
not only in the number but In the
good-humored expressions on faces
of individuals. Rowdyism was almost
entirely lacking, and police reported
surprisingly small number Of law
violations such as shop-lifting and
pocket picking.
Extra Police Speed Traffic.
Traffic Jams, however, were the rule
rather than the exception throughout
the afternoon, although considerably
augmented detail of police labored
valiantly to keep automobiles moving.
Thirty extra men were drawn from
the precincts and assigned to down.
town streets by the TRAFFIC Bureau.
In addition, all men left at the first
precinct under command of Capt. Will
liam E. Holmes were on duty. All the
plain clothes men who could be spared
from the precincts and headquarters
we're assigned to the stores and the
busiest streets
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer estimated in the neighborhod
of 155, 900 automobiles entered and left
the congested area during the II hours
from 6 to 6.
Its the largest Christmas crowd I
ever saw" declared Capt. Holmes, a
veteran officer who has spent IA years
as a lieutenant and captain in the
/ congested district Of the city. Not
even the crowds Of 1928 and 1929
equal it."
rs Per Cent Gain.
Department stores reported about
Is per cent more people entered their
establishments than last year and a
goodly portion Of them made pur-
chaSeS.
Floor walkers hid busy day. In
! quiries for "Santa Claus" and toys
were the most numerous, but the ques-
tions were as variei as the natures of
the individuals.
Young men, SOMEWHAT embarrassed,
diftldently sought articles Of womens
| clothing. mothers asked for baby suits.
husbands wanted dresses, wives wanted
ties and various and sundry persons
asked for thousands of items.
A little old woman with a finely
drawn, sensitive face, walked up to a
floorman, hesitated, turned back, then,
obviously embarrassed, walked up to
him again. Where will I find ladies'
slips?" she diffidently inquired. Her
question answered, she turned hastily
away.
Would you please tell me where
the military department is" said a
I OOAOACA hOAAd4s ndAbo W bA1 AAlC
hat"
Insulator up.
ct guess I'll ride on the insuIator,"
said another. making her way toward
the moving stairway.
A small, tow-headed lad inquired:
where's toyland?"
| - floor. Take a ride on the
escalator, you will like it," responded
the woman at the information booth
The boys mother shot her glance
Of annoyance and gave the boy a
shove.
Don't you dare go near that thing"
she said, You'll get hurt"
| Several stores maintained displays
especially planned to help men who
might be embarrassed by the nature
of the presents they sought for their
wives or sWeetheartS.
officials circulated through all the
downtown department stores, handling
difficulties as they arose and striving
to help shoppers.