Evening star., 1944-02-13

pOrteQ CnaC railroad passenger
agents in Washington were scoffing
at rumors that a widespread black
market was operating in train reser-
vations here although these agents
admitted that isolated cases of ticket
scalping might be possible.
Last week, the Washington police
reported that a wo-months survey
showed that the train ticket racket
was nonexistent here. Inspector
Robert J. Barrett, chief of detectives,
said investigators checked reserva-
ton lists, Union Station records
made personal observation of ticket
sale transactions and also investi-
gated terminal employees.
They didn't fnd single instance
Of racketeering with tickets" In
spector Barrett asserted
Now comes the report that the
Federal Bureau of Investigation has
entered the investigation at the re-
quest of the ONCE of Defense Trans
portation And railmen once again
merely shrug.
That the railroads of America are
operating under real difficulty is
recognized. But rail,nen feel happy
when they discuss railroading in
England.
Some idea of the difhculties which
beset railroads in England in this,
the fifth year Of war, may be culled
from resume published in the
current edition Of the Santa Fe
magazine.
Reasons for the "is your journey
necessary" include:
Less than three -fourths of the
prewar passenger services are avail
able
The equivalent of over 80 full
strength divisions are carried
, weekly.
| Bombing of the European conti-
nent depends on rail deliveries Of
gasoline and bombs to the airfields.
Engines for new ships are trans
ported on specially built trucks from
inland factories to the shipyards.
Bigger conveys arriving with war
materials must be unloaded in rec
ord time.
Special trains for wounded men
and prisoners must be included in
the already overcrowded schedules.
To save many thousands of tons
OF fuel heating in railway carriages
did not begin until November l and
will end March 81. During April
most trains will be unheated except
for long distance, night and troop
trains
More than 100000 British railway
men have been drafted into the
armed forces and over so passenger
trains have been destroyed in air
raids.
Inland waterway recreational
cruises. which scored record popu-
larity last year, are drafting early
spring and summer itineraries.
From Cincinnati the Greene line
announces four spring voyages: A
14-day cruise of the Ohio and Ten
nessee Rivers to Chattanooga, leav-
ing May 13: two 20-day cruises of
the Ohio, Lower Mississippi to New
Orleans. leaving April l and April
%, and an expansion cruise in
itiating the lines first voyage on
the Ohio and Upper Mississippi to
st. Paul, Mimi, in a 20-day cruise
leaving May 27. Other cruise plans
are being made by the Canadian
Steamship Lines for st. Lawrence
and Great Lakes voyages.
Among outstanding events sched-
uled for Southern climes will be
the return Of the "Old West" at
Phoenix. Ariz., where from March
30 to April the famous annual
rodeo will include top-notch Army
riders with special appeal to Army
camp visitors. Special military
events are scheduled for West Palm
Beach on Washington's birthday to
be participated in by SPARS, WACS
and WAVES. Pinehurst, Sea Island
and Southern Pines, with nearly all
Florida resorts, are announcing spe-
cial holiday attractions.
In the Northern zones, New Eng
land, New York State and Pennsyl-
vania, winter sports programs now
are at the peak of their activity,
embellished by ice carnivals and
social events. More than 40 major
ski attractions are being held this
month along with the popular re-
vival OF more than 100 old fashioned
shedding parties patterned from the
vogue of the COS.
At North Conway, N. H., the Gran
more Mountain Ski School reports
students and guests from nearly all
branches of the armed forces to-
gether with many Allied Nations
representatives. At Lake Placid,
N. Y, the annual midwinter skating
carnival is scheduled for February
10. In Pennsylvania, from the
Poconos to the Alleghenies, the win
ter season is at its height with many
Special snow and ice events sIatAd