Evening star., 1942-05-18
Gasoline
Continued From First Page)

fact indicated that a lot Of people
were learning how to walk again
or merely stayed home.
No Increase In Rail Travel
There was no noticeable increase
in rail travel, either, according to
Harry Marks, stationmaster at Un-
ion Station. Weekend train travel
has increased tremendously since
the first Of the year, but Mr.. Marks
said yesterdays volume was no
heavier than the previous Sundays.
Trains bound for Atlantic City
and other resort areas carried no
more passengers than usual. he said.
Police said travel on the Wash
ington Mount Vernon Boulevard
had been cut two-thirds. In Wash
ington and in nearby Maryland and
Virginia areas the reduction was
estimated by observers variously at
between 40 and go per cent. Most
of the observers thought so per cent
would be a fairly accurate estimate
for the Metropolitan Washington
area.
Although a shortage in the supply
of fuel was in evidence Saturday
night as motorists sought what gas
they were allowed by rationing
there were few reports OF conges-
tion at the gasoline stations which
were open yesterday. However, some
of the stations were limiting their
sales to conserve supplies, and were
rationing gasoline even to motorists
with x cards, which permit pur-
chase Of unrestricted quantities.
The American Automobile Asso-
citation said it had found only 10
filling stations open here yesterday
and all but two Of them closed at
8 pm. None ran out of gasoline
as far as was known, A. A. A. off,
cials said.
No Accurate Figures Available.
While accurate figures on yester-
days passenger trafic will not be
available for day or so, Capital
Transit Co. ofiicials, who made
observations at various points
throughout the day, said they noted
no increase in travel.
An Accident Investigation Unit
observer said District vehicular
traffic was "noticeably less" and
officials in nearby counties said the
volume was far below normal.
A sharp reduction in the number
of Washington motorists travelling
to North Beach (MdD resorts also
was noted. Only about 200 out-of-
towners visited North Beach as
compared with a normal week end
crowd of about 1000, according to
an employe of Uncle Billie's, one
of the most frequented North Beach
resorts. Similar reports of slack
business were heard from Ocean
City, Md, and Bethany and Re-
hobeth Beaches in Delaware.
Many visitors apparently shared
their cars in an effort to save gaso-
line, it was said, since the streets
were almost empty of automobiles.
Owners of several resorts in the
North Beach section. one man said,
are considering closing up if busi-
ness continues to dwindle.
B Card Clarification Sought.
Meanwhile, attempts were being
made today to clear up the confu-
sion surrounding the question of
whether motorists who have B ra-
tioning cards can use their cars for
pleasure as we'll as business.
Leonard P. Steuart. District gaso-
line and sugar rationing chief, who
declared Saturday that anything but
business" driving on B cards would
be illegal, said he would seek to
clarity the point at the Office Of
Price Administration today.
o. P. A. officials told The Star
Saturday motorists with B cards
who can save a little gas for pleas
ure driving by one means or an
other may do 50 without fear Of vio-
lating any regulations.
Reductions in highway travel were
noted throughout the entire rationed
area along the Eastern eesboard