Evening star., 1953-01-21
Traffic Heuvy:
Visitors Pack
All Terminals


late into last night, started their
homeward trek today, leaving
the man they cheered to the
toughest job of his career.
For the 10000 who witnessed
yesterdays mammoth inaugural
parade for President Eisenhower
and the 27,381 who took part
in it, today marked a re-
turn to the work-a-day world
after the feverish excitement of
sharing in the Inauguration of
a wartime hero.
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
said the crowd throughout the
city was the largest that had
ever come to Washington for an
inaugural or TO attend an in
augural parade.
Outgoing Traffic Heavy.
Air. bus and train terminals
felt the brunt of the outward
movement today. although all
reported unusually heavy"
traffic last night.
Many visitors made the inau-
guratlon a one-day excursion.
They arrived yesterday morning
and left last night.
But most of the parade par
Elephants and spectators from
points 500 miles or more distant
slept off the celebration and
planned to move out today.
The airport reported more
private planes gathered here
than at any previous time. A
runway was blocked off to make
parking lot for the planes.
Some of them were of the large
executive type.
At Union Station. officials re-
ported they handled between
100000 and 10000 persons last
night. Included among these
travellers were the service outfits
and the one-day excursion visi-
tors. Both train and bus officials
expected today's heaviest traffic
to start around noon.
Rain Expected Today.
Even the weather co-operated
to the success of yesterdays
celebration and to the anti-cli-
matte feeling of today. In con-
trast with yesterdays hours of
sunshine and rainless skies, the
forecaster saw nothing but rain
for TODAY.
The morning drizzle was ex-
pected to give way to a cold.
stinging rain whipped by a brisk
wind. The temperature was ex-
pected to rise to a high of As
and drop to a low of "a degrees
tonight.
Joseph c. McGarraghy, chair
man of the Inaugural Commit
tee, expressed satisfaction with
the celebration.
II think we had very we'll
balanced program, commencing
with Sunday" he said. Every
thing went about as we planned,
except. of course, for the slow
distribution of tickets to the in
augural balls which we regret. I
feel that we did about the best
We could when that situation
developed.
Celebration Cost Million.
"The inaugural program, in
my opinion. was a great success.
due to splendid teamwork and
cooperation up and down the
line"
Approximately 81 million was
spent on the celebration, includ-
ing the quarter-million appro-
priated by Congress for the
Capitol ceremonies. The rest of
the money was underwritten by
local merchants.
The success of the events ush-
ering in new President was told
in the crowds that gathered
everywhere-more than $4,000
at the swearing-in, an estimated
100000 along the 21 mile parade
route and approximately $4,000
at the two inaugural balls.
The parade itself lasted much
longer than had been estimated.
which produced headaches for
the police operating on a care
fully planned advance schedule.
Police explained they worked by
radio to revise their orders to
the men on the street. Police
who rushed from the parade to
the inaugural balls to handle
traffic tangles were handed sand
wicheS from trucks.