The Washington critic., 1885-06-01
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.
Washington's wonderful Growth and
Splandi1 Drnanpcfs.


that real estate and loans will hereafter
constitute branch of my business, TO
which | propose TO give special attention.
My address is Austin p. Brown, Real
Estate and Loans, 1926 i street northwest,
Washington, d. G. In this connection I
desire to call attention to the remarkable
growth of Washington.
BY the acts creating one government for
the entire District of Columbia the city
limits were virtually extended 10 the
boundary line ofthe District, although the
plan has never been. In 1900 the entire
population was S,144. In sixty years the
increase was but 66,03G. In the next ten
years, between 1860 and 1870 there was an
increase of 56,620 making the population
in 1870 13l 700. This growth was almost
wholly due to the Civil war, in consc-
quence of which the public expenditures
increased from $7, ,l55, 1875 in 1860 to 81 ,W6,-
433, ,33l in 1865. ltwas butnatural, therefore,
that the population should largely increase
during such n period but the remarkable
increase has been since the year 1870 to
the present time, viz, 63,3O0.
CAUSE or INCREASE.
This was due almost wholly to the
Identification of the city by the cele-
bratod Board of Public Works, upon
whom was heaped unboundcd abuse, yet
1t certainly effected the transformation of
u slough Of despond into the most beaut
ful city on the face of the earth. Our
population at the present time, according
TO the police census, is 203, 40, the increase
in the past five years alone being 1875.
This growth, however, is not to be COM
pared to what it will be in the future
1t has heretofore been generally believed
that the incoming of Democratic add
ministration would have an injurious, if
not disastrous, effect upon both business
and real estate, but the enforcement of the
Civil-Service law by the President has
given stability to real estate as we'll rs to
business that never before existed That
this law will be 50 amended as to make it
impossible for any President to evade its
provisions there is no doubt, for the rca-
son that before the close of the present
administration both political parties will
have an equal interest IN the passage of
"lifc-tcnure act.
THE EXTENSION or TIE CG1Y's PLAN.
The plan of the city is 50 magnificent
that it is hardly susceptible of improve
iment, except by enlargement and this
should be done at once, so as to embrace
the entire District lying west the Eastern
Branch. a magnificent park, embracing
a large area on either side of Rock Creek,
commencing about two miles beyond
Boundary street, should be made feature
of the city, and be ut once surveyed and
bcautifiod. 1t must be remembered in
tl.is connection that in consequence of the
wide streets, avenues and numerous parks,
that an area three times as great as that Of
other cities containing the same popua-
tiOn is required.
The city was laid out with view to the
erection of Il metropolis that should rival
the greatest cities of the world. Now that
it has been so beautifully cmbcllishcd and
all causes removed that has heretofore re
| tardcd rs growth, there is no reason why
| it should not approach, or even equal, the
| growth of Paris during its Identification
| by Baron Georges Eugene Haussman.
THE ONLY RIVAL OF PARIS.
From l70S to 1916, u period of forty
eight years, Paris only increased in popu-
| laton 305,0 GOO, or ut the average annual
| number of about 6,000; but in ten years,
from 1856 to 1866, during its embellish-
mcnt, it increased $50, S2S or 6j,010 year,
its population, i,,9 at the present time being
course, extraordinary, especially so when
We compare the recent growth Of Wash
| ington TO the entire population in 1880 OF
the following cities viz:
| COMPARED WITH OTHER CITIES.
Bangor, Me-, 1G,sO7; Portland, Me, 3d.
$40; Atlanta, Ga, 81 400; Savannah, Ga,
3o,7ol; Newport X. L., l5,G93 Williams
port, Pa, 1884; Williesbarre, Pa, %, 339;
Portsmouth, n H., $500; Nashua, n. H.,
1897; Hartford, Conn, 1865, New
Haven, Conn, 62SS2; Worcester, Mass,
$500; Lynn, Mass; 3S, ,32l; Omaha, Neb.
3O,5lS; Troy, n. Y, 5G7Sl; I',ca n. Y,
33,9l3; Denver, Colo, 35620; Charleston, s.
| c., 1880; Nashville, Tenn., 1880, Gal
weston, Tex, %, 253; Sacramento, Cal, A.
800; Quebec, Canada, 60 Az. Washington,
| il will be observed, has added to its popu-
| lation in the past fifteen years more than
| the entire number of inhabitants of any
| of these well-known andprosperouS cities.
| When we take into consideration the fact
| that population of 2),000 of reasonable
| ppflinorilu nppt1tina n
equal to two miles in length by one in
| breath, it Is not surprising that ground
half a mile beyond Boundary street is
| held at from 20 to 80 cents per square foot
THE COURT END.
Ifthe city should only keep pace with
its increase in the past five years, Mt least
| Une-half of the ground beyond Boundary
street lying between Sixteenth street eX-
| tended, and Rock Creek as far north rs
| Pierce Mill road will be occupied by
magnificent residences, for the reason that
the only eligible ground in the northwest
| eIn section, with the exception ofa few lots
| here and there, is along Sixteenth street
| from Lafayette Square to Boundary street.
| y large portion of the vacant property
| lying between Massachusetts avenue, Six
| teenth, Nineteenth and Boundary streets
| requires filing and time to settle before il
| will be built upon TO any extent besides
| three thousand more houses such as have
| tll'uhg bNNli ''Nlli VIII NbNNi lll lIlN ~
| manning vacant ground in that section
south of Boundary street. The city is
therefore certain to go in the direction
| above indicated, and will soon spread out
| and cover all of the beautiful plateau be-
| Yond Boundary street. between Rock
| Creek and the Soldiers Home.
THE sqTY's FUTURE.
| In conclusion, venture to predict that
| the growth of the city in the next few
| years will be marvellous, and it is not at
| all unlikely that it will eventually equal
| that of Paris, for it has been shown that
| the wonderful growth of that city is due
| almost entirely to its establishment. The
| plan of Washington is far superior to that
| of Paris. Its streets, avenues, paycments
| and parking are far superior TO those of
any city in the world. Its public build
ings are magnificent, its sewerage excel
lent, and the water supply is being in
creased with the view Of amply meeting
the growing demand. The taxes are less
than in almost any other city of any mag
nitude. Its climate excellent. 1t is the
winter resort of wealth, culture, inteli-
gence ANA fashion; the capital of the most
prosperous people of modern times and
private enterprise and wealth are vieing
with the Government with view of
| making it what it should be, metropolis
of unsurpassed magnihcence the pride Of
this and the envy of all other nations.
AUSTIN p. BROwN.