Evening star., 1943-06-23
Survey Of Recreation
For Servicemen in
D. T.. Area Launched
Increase in Facilities
From Ia Months Ago
Cited by SchooIcroft

A survey of recreational facilities
for servicemen and war workers in
the Metropolitan Area is being made
by committee appointed by Floyd
D. Akers, chairman of the War
Hospitality Committee, it was dis
closed yesterday.
Data is being sought from each
agency in this field on indoor and
outdoor facilities, sources of financ-
ing, capital investment, attendance,
hours and peak periods of operation,
personnel and stating, and estimates
relating to possible expansion and
maximum use.
Those making the study are
Wayne Somner. Winfree johnson,
Edward Conover and the chairman,
Milo Christensen, who is director
of the District Recreation Depart
ment.
Gain in Facilities Cited.
Announcement of the survey was
made after John Schoolcraft, USO
area representative, reviewed the
progress achieved here in IA months.
He said there are three times as
many events for servicemen now as
was the case year ago. Where only
five lodging places provided 359 beds
for furloughed servicemen here
year ago, there are now 20 places
with a capacity of LILO beds, he
pointed out.
Because Washington's problem is
space, with the Government the
biggest competitor in this field"
Mr.. Schoolcraft said new construc-
ton is absolutely essential" The
Union Station should have sleeping
quarters for soldiers and sailors
resting between trains, but neither
the station nor nearby areas have
the needed space, he said.
He called attention to an 80 per
cent employe replacement turnover
in Washington, compared with a
national average of Sc per cent in
wartime. Mentioning girl war
workers and their dates" Mr..
Schoolcraft said the girls invariable
complaint is that they stop coming
to see us because there Is no place
to entertain them where we live"
Outdoor Activity Suggested.
Mass outdoor entertainment on
Saturday nights, he said, might lure
servicemen from night clubs and
other indoor spots. More adequate
facilities are needed, he emphasized,
for colored war workers.
Mr.. Akers said a committee is
working to obtain larger quarters
for the Junior officers club, with
several sites under consideration.
Some one might want to turn a
large home over to the officers
club, with reasonable fee paid for
maintenance and renovation" Mr..
Akers said. There is a great need
here for larger quarters. The Fed
eral Works Agency feels something
must be done quickly to meet this
situation" For several months
junior officers have had club space
in the Burlington Hotel.
Mrs. Calvin Given Post.
The election of Mrs. William GAL
win to be executive secretary of
Recreation Services, Inc, operating
agency for the War Hospitality
Committee, was announced by Mr..
Akers following a meeting of the
Executive Committee. She sue
ceeds L. Joseph Calm, resigned, who
entered the Army. She had served
as administrative assistant since
December 10.
Resolutions praising the services
of Mr.. Calm and Mr.. Schoolcraft
were adopted. Mr.. Schoolcraft is
leaving Washington to assume
larger responsibility as national di-
rector of the Citizens Advisory
Committee, United Service Organ
izations. Miss Mabel Cook succeeds
Mr.. Schoolcraft here.
In another resolution, the District
Commissioners were asked to name
a committee on awards to volun-
teers for their unselfsh service.