Evening star., 1947-04-14
100000 Attend
Blossom Fete,
Setting Record
100000 Vehicles
Tour Tidal Busin
On Closing Day

The Cherry Blossom Festival TO-
day was acknowledged "spectacu-
lar success" by all of Washington
as estimates show that an all-time
record crowd of 450, 600 iammed the
area around. the Tidal Basin for the
two-day fete.
Sunny weather combined with
FULLY poisoning cherry trees to give
the throng of visitors and Washing
tonians asperfect afternoon yester-
day for viewing the blossoms and
the festival pageant reigned over
by the Cherry Blossom Queen, Miss
Nancy Anderson, II, daughter Of
the Secretary Of Agriculture.
Capt. Mark Raspberry, head Of
the Park Police, estimated more
than 100000 persons made their way
to the Tidal Basin yesterday. This
number, combined with the 10000
who attended the opening festivi-
ties on Saturday, brought the total
up to record for the two-day cele-
bration.
"It was by far the largest crowd
we have ever had for q festival" !"
Capt. Raspberry said. {
100000 Vehicles Make Tour.
He estimated 1000 vehicles made
the tour Around the Tidal Basin
yesterday, the largest number ever
to converge on the area Another
81, 900 vehicles were there on Satrr-
day.
Edgar Morris, chairman of the
Greater National Capital Commit
tee, pronounced the festival spec
tacular success. I've never seen q
Cherry Blossom Festival click as has
this years, our first postwar fete,"
he said
The attendance exceeded by far
that of 1941, the last previous festi-
val year, and a previous record Of
$4,000 set in 1888.
Thomas P. Morgan, general chair
man Of the festival, welcomed the
visitors during both days of the
pageant, saying that during the
past six years all of us have been
engaged in other activities which
have prevented our being as hospit-
able as we like always to be in our
Nations Capital"
Pageant is Repeated.
The repeat performance of the
festival pageant began at 1890 pm.
yesterday before the estimated 35,-
900 persons who were able to get
close enough. to see Miss Anderson
and the rest of the entertainment.
The pageant, which was over by 2
o'clock, was the same as that pre-
sented Saturday with the exception
of the crowning of the Cherry Bios
som Festival Queen.
The program included United
Nations presentation celebrating
peace Under the Trees" which
featured songs and dances Of the
participating nations; selections by
members of the Columbia Light
Opera Co., American folk dances by
the Evelyn Davis Dance Playhouse
Group, a Peace Tableau," and the
singing Of the National Anthem by
the entire assembly.
After the festival pageant, cere-
monies were held at the Jefferson
Memorial commemorating the 204th
anniversary of Jefferson's birthday.
The observance was sponsored by
the District Society, Sons of the
American Revolution. Approximate
ly IS patriotic organizations par
ticipated. A wreath from President
Truman was placed at the me-
mortal
Concert by Navy Band.
A band concer.s by the Navy Band,
led by 1t. Comdr. Charles Brendler,
was given at the Jefferson Memorial
at $3.50 pm, closing the days ac-
tivities
All-time attendance records were
made at the Jefferson Memorial
and the Washington Monument.
The Jefferson shrine was visited
by 94,148 persons by actual count
yesterday. The previous record was
in. April. 1916, when $1,000 persons
were counted.
Monument guards registered $500
persons who went to the top Of the
shaft yesterday, 2,461 of them on
foot. This is twice as many as ever
climbed the stairs before in one day.
1880 at Lee Mansion.
Another record was set at Airing
ton House Gee Mansion), which
was visited yesterday by $3.50 per-
sons. At the Lincoln Memorial,
where it was not record day,
there were 1882 visitors. In addi-
tion to the memorials and Tidal
Basin all the rest of the Districts |
park system was crowded, officials
said Il
Although the traffic was the heav-
lest ever seen in the Tidal Basin
area, park police reported no serious
accidents. At one time during the
afternoon streetcars, buses and other
traffic was backed up Fourteenth
street as far as Thomas Circle, po-
lice said. Roads from Virginia were
backed up with traffic for several
miles.
Red Cross first-aid stations treat
ed number of persons for falls,
headaches and blisters, but no seri-
GUS injuries were reported.
House Commerce Group !