Evening star., 1942-12-24
Record Travel
OF 100000 Due
AT Station Today
All Extru Coaches
Filled, Official Suys;
Bus Lines Jummed
WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY to
climax pre-Christmas celebration.
Page B-1

Page B-1
Approximately 100000 persons
will pass through Union Station
today in what may develop into
the greatest traffic movement in
history here, Harry A. Marks,
veteran station master, said this
morning as crowds thronged the
concourse in continuation of a
travel jam that started two days
ago. Bus traffic also was at a
record level
The only comparable rail movement
was in connection with the HOLY
Name conclave here in September,
1924, Mr.. Marks said. when the ma
tional parade of the religious society
staged on Sunday brought about
100000 to the Capital.
The figure of that day easily can
be exceeded, Mr.. Marks said.
All you've got to do is look out
here and you can see that we're
handling about twice as many peo-
pie as on an ordinary Saturday."
Mr.. Marks said.
Extra Cars Loaded.
Since the war started, Union Sta
ton officials have been estimating
the week end movement at the sta
tion-and that includes persons 60
ing through Washington and those
starting their tripS-at around
10000.
Mr.. Marks had no figures-things
are moving too fast thereon the
number of extra trains that have
moved and are in prospect.
It's not the number of extra
trains that count" he said. IT'S
the extra cars on every train and
every one of them loaded to so and
10 passenger seating capacity-to
say nothing Of the people who are
standing"
Fight to Board Trains.
Il don't think the public has paid
much attention to the Governments
request not to travel for the holi-
/ day Mr.. Marks said. Look at the
crowds fighting to get on these
/ trains"
Five civilians to every man in
uniform was the estimate of a re-
/ porter who checked the gate to a
New York train for few minutes,
and there were more women than
men.
Sure, the photographers can
come here and get pictures of large
groups in uniform waiting to get
certain trains" Mr.. Marks contin-
ued. But those pictures are giving
the public a mistaken impression.
It's civilian holiday travel, not the
boys on furloughs, that is crowding
| the rails"
The Associated Press reported a
great movement of mothers through
! New York to visit their sons at
camps in the South and East, and
the Travellers Aid and USO people
at the station here confirmed this.
| Great crowds arrived this morning
on overnight trains from the West.
Organ Music Heard.
The Union Station crowd walked
into an atmosphere that was both
religious and martial. Strains of
"Oh Come All Ye Faithful" on the
organ sWelled from the amplifier,
A few small Christmas trees were in
sight but the most striking display
in the station is the vast poster OF
the three hands holding tools and
fixed bayonet aloft over the words,
Strong in the strength of the Lord.
We who fight in the peoples cause
will never stop until that cause is
won
Five little colored children. all
brothers and sisters and all under 7
were huddled in the Travellers Aid
booth, gaping open-mouthed and
Wide-eyed at the tree ornaments and
lights. Their mother had been afraid
to get off train from the West
with them. inexperienced in
travel" said the efficient social
worker who had them in charge.
They were bound for the South.
All that c. w. Owings, the ticket
agent. could say as the crowd
swirled around was God help us
when they (the GovernmenD turn
them loose tonight"
Efforts at Curb Effective.
Mr.. Owings said, however. that
the efforts of officials here to hold
down travel starting from Washing
ton, coupled with the publicity this
endeavor has been given, has been
extremely effective. That is the
observation not only of the ticket
force at the station, but of all the
city ticket Offices, Mr.. Owings said.
He added that it would be a couple
Of days before the exact volume of
ticket sales out of Washington was
tabulated.
The movement of soldiers is huge,
it was added and travel is to every
section. 1t was said in this con-
nectiOn that the movement seemed
to be distributed evenly-North,
South and West.
A record-breaking bus movemnet