Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-01
IN TWO DIRECTIONS
District Citizens Are Asked to Look
Both Ways.
REPLIES TO REPORTERS INQUIRIES
Summary Presented of the Views
Thus Obtained.
q U E s S 1 N G.

Reporters Of The Evening Star have sue,
ceeded in pleasing many prominent citi-
zens of the District in the position of that
famous old NEUROLOGICAL character, Janus,
who looked backward as we'll as ahead-or,
as an old tar once put it, "for'ard same as
aft" Those thus treated were requested to
state what IN their opinion had been the
greatest achievement Of the nineteenth CEN
fury and what in their judgment would be
the total population Of the District of Co.
lumbia 4 hundred years hence, January l.
A D. 2OO1. Speculation necessarily had COLI
siderable to do with replies to the second
interrogatory. but even if the figures given
are not established by century and statis-
tics. those vino ventured them need have
no fear Of being hauled up for explanation.
1t will be interesting, however, for the Old
est Inhabitants Association on the occasion
of its annual observance of the New Year
hundred years from now, or the Columbia
Historical Society at similar function to
fail back on the files Of The Evening Star
and compare the guesses given today with
the actual number Of people which the
twenty-iirst census. providing such things
continue to be taken decennally, will show
to be residing within the national capitals
boundaries.
There are substantial differences in these
opinions. 1t will be observed and it will be
found also that there are equal divergences
in views as to the past century's greatest
achievement The summary, however will
be found interesting.
The District Commandment
Mr.. Henry b. F. Macfarland, president of
the board of District Commissioners:
ut is difficult to say what is the greatest
achievement Of the nineteenth century, be-
cause there are so many different kinds of
~,
be known in history pre-eminently as the
century Of science and invention, but it
would be hard to decide what is the great
est achievement OF its scientists and in
ventors. 1t will be distinguished for phi
lGnthrophy and for moral reforms and I'M
der this head the emancipation of human
beings from legal slavery, and especially
the liberation of the negro race in this
country, must have the first place. Next
must stand, l think the liberation Of Cuba,
the Philippines and Porto Rico from the
calling yoke of Spain.
But If one has to answer generally l
would say that the greatest achievement of
the nineteenth century is the establishment
OF the United States as the greatest ma
ton in the world. AT the opening of the
century It was the least of all nations. 1t
was doubtful whether the Constitution, not
yet interpreted by Chief Justice Marshall,
would hold the thin line of states to-
sether. England France and Spain shut up
the United STATES, practically, to the At
lantic coast. They and all other foreign
nations looked down on the new republic.
The population was small. the people We're
rich only in character. Most of the me-
chanical inventions and the manufacturing
industries which have enriched the United
States were Lrdreamed of. The develop
ment which followed is unparalleled in the
history of the world 1t cost a civil war
to make 1t really great nation But out
of all its experiences 1t has gained strength
and beauty, riches and honor, high moral
T-,~:t-
with all that it has won, and all that it
stands for. and the sure promise that it
will continue to grow in moral, intellectual
and political power. as well as in wealth. is
the best and greatest product Of the nine
tenth century.
II am asked to say what 1 think the
population of the District of Columbia will
be at the end of the twentieth century.
hazard the prediction that it will be in the
neighborhood of a million. There Is no way
of accurately calculating what 1t will be,
for there is no uniform rate OF increase.
But 1t Is certain that the capital will grow
as the nation grows and share its greatness
and prosperity.
Mr.. John w. Ross, a member of the board
of District Commissioners: I'm my opinion.
the application of electricity stands pre-
eminent III the achievements accomplished
during the nineteenth century. The popu-
lation Of the District of Columbia January
l. 2O01, will not be less, in my judgment,
than 100000"
capt. Lansing n. Beacn, the Engineer
Commissioner of the District Il think the
greatest advancement has been made in the
discovery and development Of the many
forms in which electricity can be produced
and the various applications that can be
made Of it. l believe that the uses to which
it can be applied are now but small pro-
portion of what they will be in the future.
You can put down my guess Of the popula-
ton Of Washington in 2OO1 at 926, 257-to be
exact
Other District officials.
DR.. William Tindall, secretary to the
board of District Commissioners: Man can
live without cars, without steamboats,, 1
ween: telephones, anti-toXines, telegraphs,
serums. washing machines, X-rays, about
half the doctors, lawyers and preachers;
gas, trusts, debts and other 4
ills that flesh is heir to- the Christmas eve
horn; the cough drop man, tax collectors
but not disbursing ofticers-the Anacostia
flats etc, etc, but life would soon be drear
SO the sewing machine-and the girl who
runs it. For / cannot see how we would
get along here without clothes, nor how
they could made fast enough by hand
when / look at the long list of weddings
and more a-coming.
Hence 1t is. can recall no other achieve
ment so entirely beneficial to humanity
since the adaptation of the crank to the
steam engine in 1888 as the invention Of the
sewing machine. and unhesitatingly award
1t the palm as the greatest production of
the nineteenth century But | take off my
hat to the crank as the daddy of them all.
II estimate that the population of the
District Of Columbia In the year 2001 will
be between JOGO and $4,000. The per-
centage of increase has fallen from ~ per
cent in 1Si0-61 to about per cent in 1880
o. While that rate Of decrease in percent
age OF growth is not likely to persist, it in
dicates that the sources of growth are con-
stantiy becoming proportionally less pro-
life
MIR. Clifford Howard assistant secretary
to the board Of District Commissioners:
The discoveries of Prof. H;lprecht at Nip
pur are among the grea test achievements
of the century. They show us that more
than 5000 years before Christ there existed
a high state of civilization in the valley Of
the Euph,ates, and that mankind then rec
ognzei the same principles of religion and
ethics that We do today. fact which will
have a far-reaching effect in lberalizing
human thought. 1t will do more than all
the philosophers Of the world to open our
eyes to the folly of self-righteousness en-
the part of any particular age or race of
ma nkind, when we behold in these most an
cient Of records complete a demonstra-
ton Of the eternal unity Of religious and
moral teachings.
II believe the population Of the District
of Columbia in the year 2OO1 will be not less
than 1000, 0O0."
Mr.. J. Petty, auditor Of the District of
Columbia: II consider the invention and de-
velopment of the electric telegraph the
greatest achievement Of the nineteenth CEN