Evening star., 1942-02-22
Ry LANES E. CHINN.

A proposal that Washington's
three summer excursion and moon
light ride" steamers aid in reliev-
ing the acute public transportation
situation by operating a special
ferry service for Government work
ers between Alexandria, the Navy
Yard and the Seventh street
wharves was made last night by
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee.
A special informal meeting Of
the committee was called at 10:30
am. tomorrow to discuss the plan.
Officials of the steamboat compa-
nies have been invited to present
their views.
Representative Randolph, who has
been working for several months to
find way to lease" the transporta-
ton problem resulting from the i'm
pact on Washington and its Metro
politan Area of thousands of addi-
tional Federal workers, said he had
learned the three Potomac River
steamers-the Mount Vernon. the
Potomac and the Robert E. Lee
are tied up at their docks for the
winter along the water front.
Mr.. Randolph expressed belief one
of these three steamboats, could
provide ferry service between
Alexandria and the Washington
Navy Yard which would accommo-
date Government workers at that
plant as well as at Boiling Field, the
Naval Air Station and the Naval
Research Laboratories at Bellevue.
The two other steamers, he said,
should be able to provide service for
hundreds of other Government en-
ployes living in the Alexandria area
who work in Washington.
Short Walk to Work.
Ferries running from Alexandria
to the Seventh street wharves, ac-
cording to Mr.. Randolph, would
enable Government employees who
live in that vicinity to land within
walking distance of many of the
Federal buildings paralleling the
Mall. He mentioned specifically the
War, Navy. Agriculture and Justice
Departments, the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing, and the Fed
eral Trade and Interstate Commerce
Commissions.
Almost directly across the river
from Alexandria, he pointed out,
are the Washington Navy Yard, the
Naval Research Laboratories, Boil
ing Field and the Naval Air Station,
whose civilian employees now living
in Alexandria and the surrounding
area could be quickly served by a
ferry service. These employees now,
he said, are forced to take a cir
cuituous route through dense WASH
ington traffic, covering at least five
needless miles" to reach their
places Of employment either by
private automobile or other means
Of transportation.
Further, Mr.. Randolph said the
ferry service would not interfere
with the regular moonlight" ex-
cursions of the three steamers, and
as the Governments tire rationing
program has its effect, more and
more people will be looking to the
mass transportation agencies to
carry them to and from work.
Each of the three river steamers,
Representative Randolph was told,
could operate on a schedule of a
round trip an hour between Wash
ington and Alexandria, and carry a
minimum of 1000 passengers in each
direction. With two steamers op-
Grating on the Washington-Alex-
andria service, it was said, a half
hour schedule could be provided be-
tween these two points. If only one
of the three steamers operates be-
tween Alexandria and the Washing
ton Navy Yard, it was indicated, a
45-minute schedule could be main
tained between these two points.
A regular ferry service was op-
Grated between Washington and