Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-11
,argest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
WASHINGTON CITY:
sAITBDAY.........F February IL, 1871.
Inc sta,us Of w.sn,.-,...

study Of the census tables of tho larger
cities Of the country for the last three decades
developes some interesting and suggestive facts
touching the growth and prosperity Of washing
ton City compared with that OF the other
cities holding a corresponding position In re-
speet 20 size ard importance.
Fer instance while she stood fifteenth in raul
in IsJe, she was able TO take only one Sep for
ward, or in other words 20 become fourteenth IN
position, in 1850. This apparently slight advance
vas owing partly, il may be assumed, to the
depressing influences of slavery, which then
surrounded her. but IL was due In q much
greater degree to the extraordinary growth Of
sOme Of the western cities which naturally fol
loved the rapid development OF that section OF
the country between the years 1850 and 1870;
but she nevertheless passed Pittsburg, Charles
ton and Providence in the race, being passed
IN turn By Newark and Chicago. Yet, notwith-
standing the still more astonishing growth OF
some Of the western cities during the decade
Just ended, and in spite of the extraordinary
impetus given 10 all placer interested i'm manu-
features BY the exceptional demands growing
out OF the late war, We lind Washington still
keepirg pace with the moot prosperous cities Of
the country. and dyapcing from the fourteenth
TO the twelfth In point Of population between
the years 1860 and $50 In this decade she
was passed in turn by San Francisco alone
being thus able to keep in advance Of all her old
competitors, and compelled to yield the palm
of progress only TO the metropolis OF the Pacific
coast, the circumstances Of whose growth ID u
we'll understood we're quite exceptional in their
character.
But we examine into the per centAge of
increase OF population in the fourteen cities
now containing more Than one hundred thou
.snd souls, the progress OF Washington win be
found 10 be illustrated in . still more striking
manner. We have not at hand the requisite
data for making a comparison on this point
earlier than for the ten years ending with 1860,
and II 10 doubtful whether, in view OF oil the
elements properly entering into a consideration
OF the subject, the stAtistics for An earlier
period would be Of any real value in this con
nection- But il will be seen that in IsGo Wash
ington stood number seven in respect to the Der
Centage Of growth, showing An increase during
the decade then ending Of 52.sJ per cent. OF
the fourteen cities which were ahead of Wash
ington IN point OF population at that time six
led her in the quality OF per centa.e OF increase,
a. fellows, In the order named: Brooklyn, St.
Louis, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Louisville And
New York. But in 1870 her rank among the
fourteen cities then containing over one hun
nred thousand inhabitants, in respect to per
centage or increase, was number four, being led
IN this trying test Of growth only by the cities
OF Chicago, San Francisco and St. Louis i'm the
order named. The per centage Of increase in
Washington during the last ten years was rs so
while that OF the three cities leading her Wa
respectively, 1870, I65. ~, and 9e.4o.
From these exhibits it will be seen that the
ratio Of increase or population in Washington
has been greater tlan that OF any Of the larger
cities on the Atlantic slope.
We are as yet without the means of iastituting
a comparison Of her increase in wealth and
business with that OF the other cities referred
10 IN this connection, but We do not doubt that
hen the statistics illustrating these points are
made public, her advance in these respects will
be found 70 be even more rapid and striking
than her marked increase in population, nor
that her progress in education, culture utera-
tuTe, the arts and sciences and general i'm
Trcvene1t viii be apparent in . still greater
degree.
AZ stated above, these facts are both interest,"
ms and .seStive, and, il may be added, no,
less gratifyin: and encouraging. They demon
stIste beyond the possibility OF cavil or doubt
that the material and intellectual growth of
Washington have been more rapid and sub
stantial than those of any OF her sister cities,
and give promise of the future which justifes
the iiyeiiest and most sanguiIe auticipations as
20 her ultimate destiny. That these anticipa-
tions will be realized, those best acquainted
with the grounds upon which they are based en-
ttrtsin the fe~est doubts.