WASHINGTON, D.C. —Subways which operate between the Senate office buildings and the Capitol are used 10 hours a day and transport up to 139,000 persons each day.
Sounds fantastic, but according to one of the operators, there are many people including visitors, elected representatives and government employes using the subway cars.
The nation's Capitol has eight of the cars operating between buildings making a total of 2,080 round trips daily.
Our family visited Sen. Roman Hruska at his office in the Senate office building for a few moments. Busy as he was, courtesy was extended to visiting Nebraskans. Also helping make Nebraskans welcome, was Senator Hruska's right hand man, Bob Kulak, administrative assistant.
Senator Hruska also took us to the visitor's gallery in the Capitol where we watched the Senate in action. Sen. Hubert Humphrey (D-Minn.) was on the floor giving his opinion of a nuclear test ban.
The man at the door of the gallery took our package from us explaining that neither cameras nor large packages are permitted in the gallery.
We were treated with courtesy by all in the buildings, an item which certainly makes a visitor feel welcome. We also walked the famous steps to the capitol building and watched as an Air Force crew assembled a portable stage for an evening band concert smack dab in front of the building.
There is a great deal — historically speaking — to see in Washington, D.C. The Lincoln Memorial is a must as should be the Marine Corps Iwo Jima monument. Crack drill squads put on quite a show on the grounds much to the pleasure of several thousand spectators.
There's no place like home, though, no matter where a person travels, say most Nebraskans. West — by gawd — Virginia, stomping grounds of the Bob Tolers, was by far the most scenic state we traveled. A lot of the history of the country is in the east at Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, Virginia.
New York City has its high points, certainly well worth seeing. I couldn't help but enjoy the big city because of the entertainment and newstands chock full of copies of daily newspapers and magazines. Grand Central station drew interest from our family because of the hustle-bustle during rush hours and scores of lunch stands, shops and newstands.
Another little item of interest there was the new Studebaker Avanti on display on a moving platform. Quite a sporty car. It attracted many "ahs" from passersby.