Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-22
DISTRICT INDUSTRIES.
An Interesting Bulletin just Issued From
the Census Once.

| the Census once.
| IT SHOWS THAT WASHINGTON HAS GOOD CLAIM:
As AN INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING GIN
TER-rKE CAPITAL INVESTED AND THE NUN
BER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED.
The census Office has published an inter est
ing bulletin on Manufactures in the District
OF Columbia" for the year ended May 81, 1880
prepared under the direction Of Mr.. Frank r.
Williams special agent in charge of manufac-
lures. The field work of collecting the reports
from individual establishments which form the
basis for this report was intrusted to tho imme-
diats supervision of Mr.. Harrison Dingman.
special agent, and the results published indi.
cate the care and fidelity attending the per-
Torrance Of this duty.
The nine tabular statements contained in the
bulletin are designed to form full statistical
presentation of the respective classes Of in
dustry under the general heads of Capital In
vested miscellaneous Expenses" Labor
and Wages" Materials Used" and Goods
Manufactured" but these statements will be
held subject to notifications in the future
quiry has embraced the cost Of miscellaneous
expenses incurred in manufacturing oper-
atoms other than wages paid and cost Of mate.
rial used.
THE SHOWING.
says the bulletin, exhibits Q remarkable
increase in nearly all branches of manufactures
in the District and becomes a matter of absorb
ing Importance when it is considered that the
opinion has hitherto been commonly enter.
tanned, even by the most intelligent and care
ful observers. that manufactures could never
prosper to any appreciable extent in the terri
tory occupied by the federal government as its
national capital Tbs view was doubtless
founded on the assumption that inasmuch as the
empioyments OF the COVER nment created practi-
caly the greater proportion Of the commerce
OF the District. trade would be naturally lin
tied to the incidental and current wants of gov
ment employees. The argument was also ad-
vanced that when the territory comprising the
District of Columbia was ceded by Mary and
Virginia and the town Of Washington finally
selected as the national capital the definite
purpose and idea of Congress were to supply
simply seat OF government, restricted TO the
necessary public buildings and tenancy of
federal employees and such visitors as might be
drawn thither by business, pleasure or neces-
slty For these reasons the District was COM
monty regarded as neutral ground, as well in
the elements OF commercial prosperity in
the political puryiew, with little prospect of
advance In material prosperity other than that
incident to the coastwise, internal and canal
trade OF Alexandra and Georgetown. The very
TACT that Washington was in such close proX-
Unity to Baltimore, thriving city situated
upon broad estuary leading to the ocean,
argued against any great commercial promi-
nence In the District Of Columbia in excess of
that incident merely to government employ
ments and outlay. Even up to times compare
lively recent Washington has been commonly
considered an outlying suburb of Baltimore and
tributary only to thriving commercial centers
both north and south of the Potomac.
PROGRESS IN MANUFACTURES
"The rapid augmentation in the population
and wealth of the country, through which the
business affairs of the federal government be-
came expanded to an extent beyond all posi-
Die or ultimate anticipation, has necessarily
operated to advance the importance and COM
mercial prosperity Of the federal capital. Mean
time the struggling town previously designated
as the city OF magnificent distances rapidly
approached the dignity of a possible
metropolis, and when the grand scheme
OF public improvements was success
fully inaugurated and perfected the
national capital passed through the process of
an evolution which has resulted in making
Washington the most beautiful city in the
world. This wonderful transition has it seems,
exercised corresponding influence upon COM
merce and manufactures. The following COM
prehensive figures exhibit the remarkable pro-
gress in manufactures within the District for
the past decade, as shown by census investi-
CATION:
CnrovNa o4s~-a.