Evening star., 1939-07-01
Fair Weather Forecast
For Capital Area
Over Holiday
Thousands Prepare
To Desert City for
independence Day

GA "SdtliCl toi lIiC Sdkildl al co
over the holiday week end was fore
cast today by the Weather Bureau
as thousands Of Washingtonians be-
gan deserting the city proper to
celebrate the Fourth of July at
nearby summer resorts.
Almost all Federal Government
workers looked forward to three
day holiday, beginning this after
noon. Most of the pleasure minded
were headed for chesapeake Bay
shore points, though many prepared
to visit the New York Worlds Fair.
The weatherman contended there
is little likelihood Of week end down.
pours similar to the one which
flooded some sections Of the city yes.
terday after1lunn -. go. ~ y ss''ss'
The official good news came with
the announcement of fair and
slightly cooler tonight; fair and
moderate temperature. tomorrow
and Monday. The mercury began
to rise slowly from a low of 67 de-
grees at S o'clock this morning.
Stores Open Monday.
Retail stores. members of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation, will be closed on the Fourth
but will remain open Monday.
Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer announced, on the other
hand, that the motor vehicle inSpec-
ton stations will be closed on both
days.
The jury branch of Police Court
will not be in session on either day.
On Monday the United States, Dis
trict Of Columbia and traffic
branches of the court will handle
iocked-up cases solely, while on
Tuesday only the District of Co.
lumbia and traffic branches will be
in session for similar cases.
Postal service in the District will
follow the regular weekday schedule
Monday.
The climax of the holiday season
for the men, women and children
who like the District well enough
to spend these days here will come
Tuesday night with a super July 4
celebration in the Monument
Grounds.
This is one holiday in the year
when the departing throngs are not
replaced by sightseeing vacation
lists coming into Washington from
other parts of the country. The
city never expects many visitors on
July 4.
All plans for the Tuesday cele-
bration have been completed under
the direction of Brig. Gen. Albert
l.. Cox, commanding officer of the
District National Guard, who is
chairman of the July Celebration
Arrangements Committee. The
program opens with a band con-
cert at tbs pm. There will be
speeches, an elaborate aerial fire.
works display, concert by the
United States Marine Band and
the massing of the colors by mill
tary organizations.
The principal speaker will be
Senator Alben w. Barkley of Ken
lucky, who is known in the Blue
grass State as fine, old-fashioned
orator. Senator George L. Rad
cliffe of Maryland will read the
Declaration of Independence. That
these men will participate is due to
the efforts of Col. Edwin A. Halsey,
secretary of the Senate, who is
chairman of the Program Commit
tee.
There will be 14,145 seats avail
able at IS cents each.
Piney Branch Flooded.
Midafternoon downpours yeSter-
~ flooded sections of nasey
Branch Valley, in the viciNNSy of
Thirteenth and Emerson streets, to
a depth of 4 feet.
Several automobiles and a Capital
Transit bus containing dozen
passengers were marooned for an
hour in the street triangle at Ark
ansas avenue and Thirteenth and
Emerson streets. The occupants
were assisted to higher ground by
residents Of the neighborhood who
waded out to the cars.
Sixth precinct police hurried to
the area to reroute traffic by way
of more hilly thoroughfares. Rose
bushes in the triangle park were
covered with water. Manhole covers
were pushed open by the pressure
Of the water which poured into
sewers too small to drain it of.
In some areas asphalt in the
streets buckled. Trees were under
mined by the water and blown
down by . heavy gust Of wind which
followed the deluRe,