Evening star., 1946-11-03

The three-day armistice holiday,
next week end, is expected to cause
hardly more than ripple in recrea-
tional and home-going travel, ac-
cording to a check with public
transportation companies serving
Washington. The Thanksgiving
spurt however, already is shaping
up, and special preparations are
being made to handle the load.
Normal railroad schedules are ex-
pected to move the. outbound flow
of passengers beginning after the
close of the work day Friday, and
Union Stations extra business will
be noted among tourists coming to
the Nations Capital for the No
vember II ceremonies, rather than
in departures, according to Sidney
Kerl, superintendent Of the Wash
ington Terminal Co. Airlines gen.
orally will depend on regular flights
to handle the traffic; buslines will
have extra equipment in readiness
should an above normal demand
develop.
Complete plans for Thanksgiving
traffic have not been formulated as
yet. Airliner reservations already
are reported heavy, and at least one
line has all outgoing space booked.
If precedent is followed, Govern
ment offices will be closed Friday,
November 20, as well as Thanks
giving Day, allowing a four-day
respite from duty
New Orleans will celebrate Inter
national Week in a special six-day
program November IA to 49,, one
of the more significant events being
formal dedication November 18 of
it's Foreign Trade Zone. Ambassa-
dors and ministers from nearly 30
foreign countries are expected to
attend the celebration, along with
cabinet members, high Federal Of
fficials and other dignitaries.
Under Federal authority, the
Crescent City takes on the status
of the second free port" operated
in the United States. New York is
the only other U. S. port with such
an area set aside, into which mer-
chandise and commodities can be
brought from foreign countries for
processing without payment of Gus
toms duties. Duties are applied,
however, if the goods cross from
the zone to go to other parts of the
United States.
Linked with this free port" status
lis the citys International House,
which has been operated on a
limited scale since June, 1945. It's
world opening" will be one of the
high lights of the week. Other of
the more prominent events will be
the laying of the cornerstone of
the International Trade Mart and
Inauguration of another interna-
tional airline from New Orleans.
International House, dedicated to
world trade, peace and understand
ing, is operated as a meeting place
for foreign businessmen and offers
them private Offices, conference
rooms, an international library and
a dining room. When completed.
the mart will be available to display
merchandise of American and for
Ieign manufacture to buyers of all
countries.
Climaxing International Week will
be the sailing of the Delta Lines new
liner, the Del Norte, from New
Orleans on It's maiden voyage. About
60 prominent newspapermen and
magazine writer's will make the five
day trip to Havana.
AS forecast last Spring, travel to
the National parks and other areas
operated by the National Park Serv-
ice set an all-time high during the
1946 travel year, the. Park Service
| disclosed in report yesterday.
However, Director Newton B. Drury
and operators of concessions in the
parks are not too happy about the
service provided visitors last sum-
mer, and, in attributing the de-
dciencies to lack of trained per-
sonnel, Mr.. Drury gives the hint
that vacationers next year can ex-
pect improvement.
A statement released by Mr.. Drurv
said: "The Park Service was not,
at any time during the travel year,
as fully stated as during the last
prewar year. Much of the time it
was seriously short of the personnel
required to give necessary protection
to the areas and to provide essential
services to visitors.
1.-The consessioners were required
| to rebuild their staffs after four