Evening star., 1937-01-17
0utpouring May Eclipse All
Previous Demonstrations
of Kind, Survey of Passen-
ger Traffic Indicates.
PROSPECTS FOR CLEAR
WEATHER UNCERTAIN
Schools Will Be Closed Wednesday.
Hotels Prepared for Overflow
Contingents-State Societies
Will Welcome and Entertain
Guests From Back Home.
BY REX COLLIER.

BY rail. air and highway, a cross
section of the Nations citiZenry last
night was ready to converge on the
bustling, decorated National Capital
in a patriotic pilgrimage to the color
full ceremonies attending the re-
induction into Office next Wednesday
of President Franklin Delano Roose-
welt.
Reputedly blase Washington was
eflutter with final preparations for the
quadrennial spectacle, as the van
guard Of a mighty host of inaugural
visitors was reported due to arrive
within the next "a hours from far
flung points.
The outpouring of enthusiasm was
to be fitting climax to the epochal
demonstration Of approval given
President Roosevelt by Americas vot-
ers last November.
That the outpouring may eclipse all
previous demonstrations of the kind
was indicated last night when a sur
vey disclosed that the greatest pas
senger traffic movement in the city's
history is in the offing
Every means of transportation into
Washington is taxed to capacity
with reservations, the check showed.
The first arrivals Of consequence are
expected by rail tomorrow, with the
peak anticipated late Tuesday.
Weather prospects for Wednesday
were uncertain. The Weather Bu-
reau's weekly outlook" predicted rain
the first part of this week, probably
ending by Wednesday. Falling tenn
peratures were on the weather hori-
zon.
If the weather is fair, the President
plans to use an old family Dutch
Bible in the ceremony. He used this
Bible in taking the oath four years
ago. If there is rain, he will not risk
running the venerable book.
All schools, public and parochial,
will be closed during the day to en-
able children to attend the in
augural.
Hotels were prepared to receive
overflow contingents of inaugural
guests from many States. A Pull
man city" will be born almost over
night on railroad property to care
for thousands coming by special train.
The Board of Trade will aid in pro-
viding shelter for other guests in
some 10000 rooms listed by board
ing houses and private owners.
While the Presidents ban on civil
ian marching units caused cancel
lation recently of hotel reservations for
more than $50 members of Tammany
Hall, the effect was to provide last
minute accommodations for late ar
rivals. Most of the leading hotels are
booked to capacity, however.
Many Excursion Trains.
Railroads are running large num-
Der OF solid trains for special dele
cations, extra cars for smaller groups
and innumerable excursions for the
general public.
Transportation demands are shift
Ing so rapidly as the big day nears
that railroads were unable at a
late hour last night to estimate the
probable influx of passengers.
In many instances. the sightseers
will occupy the train quarters for
the duration of the stay here, ar
rangements having been made to
park the long lines of Pullmans at
such points as Benning, Fourteenth
street southwest and Seventeenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue south
east. where they can be serviced am
ply and have convenient local trans
portation facilities available.
The Chesapeake g. Ohio is mov-
ing in two specials tomorrow morn
ing, one from Mississippi that was
routed through Louisville and the
other from Oklahoma, via st. Louis.
Two out Of Ohio will get in Tuesday.
Several Governors and their parties
are making the trip in these, the
(see INAUGURAL, Page A-5.)