Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-24
.YuIeCrowds
Fade asCity
Turns 10 Home
Warming Weather
Ends Chance of
White Christmas

Washington's pre- Christmas
rush tapered off on the streets
and sidewalks today as indoor
holiday preparations claimed the
last minute hustle.
Warming temperatures virtu-
ally erased the chance of snow
for Santa's annual sleigh trip
tonight. The Weather Bureau
foresaw partly cloudy week
end. with mostly fair and con-
Siderably warmer weather on
Christmas Day.
Many area residents will
gather with family and friends
at the Christmas tree tonight,
once the tots are abed with
their dreams of st. Nicholas, to
sing carols and open gifts.
Christmas Eve Services
Christmas eve religious services
are scheduled in many churches,
and a large attendance was an
ticipated.
The rush of travel in and out
Iof Washington had passed its
peak, with the big volume yes
terday afternoon and evening
But travel terminals continued a
rush business through the night
and morning. with Union Sta
ton reporting the heaviest total
volume of passengers in years.
Hundreds of extra cars were be-
ing put on, and some trains were
delayed as much as three hours
due to the passenger crush.
Its so crowded. it's pathetic. I"
a harried station official re-
ported.
Most downtown stores planned
to close at 6 pm. today. so
employees could spend Christmas
eve with their families. The
volume of Christmas buying
continued heavy until the stores
CLOSED at 9 pm. yesterday.
Last Minute Shoppers
A large proportion of today's
shoppers were men on last
minute assignments from busy
housewives and also getting
around at last to their own
Christmas preparations.
Branch post Offices were clos
ing at noon. to remain closed to-
morrow and Monday. A skeleton
crew, all volunteers, will work
tomorrow in the City Post Office
answering telephones. and stack
ing incoming mail and parcels.
Mail carriers will deliver
Christmas gift parcels to homes
all day Christmas. but no other
mail. There will be no deliveries
Monday. but 400 temporary en-
,ployes and half the regular
crews will sort mail in the City
Post Office.
Most area schools let out for
the holidays Thursday afternoon
to reopen on January 3.
Carols and other sacred yule-
tide music were prominently fea-
tured in the many Christmas eve
services in churches where wor-
shippers will hail the birth of
Christ with Thanksgiving and
rededication to His teachings.
Numerous Protestant churches
will hold candlelight services.
Catholic churches will hold the
traditional midnight mass with
choirs of each taking part.
Christmas Day Services
More religious services were
scheduled for Christmas Day.
Airline travel also was sub
stantially heavier than normal,
with some airlines adding extra
sections. American Airlines put
on ITO extra sections. Of which
81 were coast-to-coaSt. Travel
volume was estimated 10 to 20
per cent over last year. Capital
Airlines reported 155 extra sec
tons.
Bus depot officials also re-
ported a large volume of passen-
gers and extra equipment on
most runs
The American Automobile As
ISOLATION estimated $4,000 cars
leaving Washington. carrying
222, 900 persons The heaviest
requests for travel information
came for trips to New York
State. Pennsylvania. Ohio and
Florida.