Evening star., 1951-07-02

/ Additional clerks were added anu
stocks were built up, as the man
ayers expected more people to
shop near home.
An expected increase. in gaso-
line sales failed to materialize to-
day, but filling station operators
were looking for climb in busl-
ness if the strike continues at
mid-week.
One operator said that appar-
emily the motorists still were run
ming on weekend gasoline.
Small shops had begun to feel
the pinch a little One F street
clothing merchant said he had
only two customers in his store
this morning-far below the nor
NAL Monday shopping.
Washington streets took on a.
strange appearance as cars were
parked on tracks along Pennsyl-
vania avenue and many other
prominent streets.
Motorists usually hard-pressed
for parking places took advantage
of the emergency traffic control
measures which threw open other
restricted places.
Main Arteries Jammed.
Bus and street car loading zones,
parking meter spaces. and usual
one or two-hour parking places
were open without restriction ex-
cept for rush hours. and they
quickly filed up.
AS The first big rush subsidized,
Maj. Barrett issued warning to
motorists. He said too many driv-
ers this morning ignored traffic
signals, moving through red lights
while they followed constantly
flowing lines of traffic.
"All reports of moving violations
will be prosecuted" the major
said.
He said one unexpected trouble
developed when motorists began
hating along the streets waiting
for the mo standing" rush-hour
parking areas to open up. II
these places, he added, police
directed the motorists to move on,
park their cars and get them off
the street.
| Mai. Barrett called for cooper
alton from the motorists in keep
ing traffic jams at a minimum.
Several developed at main inter-
sections this morning, but were
cleared quickly.
Arteries from the Northwest
Fourteenth and Sixteenth streets
and Connecticut and Constitution
avenues, we're jammed with cars
running bumper to-bumper.
Along the curbs, hundreds of
persons waited for rides from
sympathetic motorists.
Some of the automobiles bore
hastily drawn cardboard signs,
announcing their destinations.
Pedestrians who saw names of
familiar destinations hailed them.
Taxicabs Enjoy Good Day.
Thousands of taxicabs cruising
the streets were doing a landofflce
business. Many of the drivers be-
gan their tours early and planned
to remain late.
Passengers willingly shared the
cabs with others, and most cabs
came into the downtown district
loaded. Cab companies refused to
accept time orders" for those
wishing to be picked up at home
at a certain time this morning.
Altogether. nearly 10000 cabs
were available in the District area.
But there wasn't much to be
done about most of the traffic jam.
On Thirteenth street, for instance,
four lanes of inbound traffic were
solidly banked about $50 pm.
A policeman said that was the
time the traffic usually began
thinning.
The Snail's pace caught thou
sands of motorists. One reported
it took half an hour to maneu-
yer four blocks between Virginia
avenue anG the Ellipse.
The weekend warning that a
strike was imminent gave many
a chance to plan for the emer-
gency. Many Government agencies
: had car pools functioning. They
asked motorists to display signs
such as Main Navy" "Pentagon," :"
or Census"
Bicycles Put Into Service.
Some cars rolled into town
heavily overloaded. One convert
ible carried nine passengers.
Even bicycles were pressed into
service. Jack Couvillion, 1874 New
Hampshire avenue NV, was
sighted pedaling an antique num-
ber on Connecticut avenue, headed