Evening star., 1939-12-30
Old Year on Way Out,
City Begins 3-Day
Celebration
Fair, Colder Predicted;
Night Clubs Ready for
Record Business

The old year, tattered derelict,
was breathing its last under sheet
of ice and a blanket of snow in
Washington today.
With Government workers absent
from their offices-getting flying
start on three-day welcome to the
Near Year-the city's streets were
left to the snow and small assort-
ment of Federal employees who
enjoyed no holiday.
Cold weather was in prospect for
the week end, with the Weather Bu-
reau forecasting minimum tenn
perature of % degrees tonight. Fair
and cold is the prediction for to-
morrow.
Fresh snow covered the streets
during the night in fall estimated
by the Weather Bureau at ~ of an
inch. The mercury slid down to %
degrees at am, but rose during
the morning.
Extra Patrolmen Assigned.
This city gave no indication that
the weather would interfere with
| ltS ldSb lltCS 1Ol tllC yCaA Aooo eAAA
its greeting for 1910.
Police were getting ready for big
night. About 100 extra patrolmen
| have been assigned to the down.
town streets and precinct COM
manders have been ordered to bring
their midnight shifts on at II pm.
and to hold the shift due off at mid
night until l am All traffic lights
will be kept on in the city during
the night, it was announced.
Four hotels here have asked for
and obtained extra police details.
The superintendent of police has
ordered that officers whose regular
days off fall on the holiday be held
in readiness.
Night club headwaiters braced
themselves this afternoon and got
set for the rush. of celebrants who
will start beating the tocsin tonight.
Reservations at hotels and night
clubs indicate business tonight and
New Year Eve will approach the
week end record
More serious minded citizens
planned to participate in religious
and other services planned in the
District over the week end The
climax of these services will be the
interdenominational rites on the
steps of the Capitol from 1880 pm.
to midnight Sunday.
This prayer service, sponsored by
the Committee on Religious Life in
the Nations Capital, will be open
to members of all faiths and will be
broadcast across the Nation on
hookup starting here with Station
WMAL.
Thousands Leave City.
Several thousand Washingtonians
left the city over the holiday and
Union Station was crowded last
night. The exodus continued today,
with railroads carrying extra Sec
tions on trains to New York, Chicago
and the South.
The night club celebration here
this year will be officially nom
alchoholic. Under rules of the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board,
| the serving OF all alcOnOl must
stop at midnight tonight.
In the morning, beer and light
wines sale will be resumed, but those
who go to night spots for their New
Year eve celebrating will not be able
to get drink until 1901 am, jan
uary /, 1910.
This situation has done nothing
to discourage attendance in night
clubs, proprietors say, pointing out
that reservations indicate this will
be the largest celebration since the
easy-come days of the l92Os.
The prayer service on the Capitol
steps has been arranged by DR..
Albert j. Mccartney, pastor of
the Covenant-First Presbyterian
Church, cooperating with the Rev.
John K. Cartwright, pastor of the
Church of the Immaculate Con-
/