New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-30
TIE GROWTH OF WASHINGTON.

A census just taken by the Washington police
shows that the national capitals population is
increasing at a surprisingly rapid rate A city
built to order for purposes of government and
lacking manufactures. shipping and wholesale
! trade, Washington has developed along lines pc
culiaEly its own. It has had to grow in default
o. any natural advantages as centre OF COM
merce or industry. Overshadowed by BaltI
more, only forty miles distant, and with no
territory Of its own to draw on for population
or business, the city was long condemned to
isolation and to such slow and painful growth
as Il could achieve through the broadening of
the federal service and of the federal govern
ment's activities. What population 1t had it at
tracted simply and solely because it was the
seat Of federal power, and to the present time
its character as a capital still wholly dominates
its character as a city.
There are indications, however, in the census
just taken that Washington is beginning to
grow as a city faster than it is growing as the
seat of government. Since 1890 certainly, the
population of the District of Columbia has ex-
banded out of ratio to any expansion in the
limits of the federal service. The census of
1880 showed total of 230,302 inhabitants in
the federal district. BY 1900 the total had in
creased to 27S,71S. This gave Washington a
percentage OF increase for the decade of 2O.9-
higher rate than that reached by Baltimore
and only .. less than that reached by Philadel-
phia. This discovery caused some surprise for
! it suggested that in spite Of its handicaps as
non-manufaCturng town the national capital
could still compete for population with two
great nearby centres of industry and commerce
! like Philadelphia and Baltimore The census
of this year gives evidence OF still more remark
| able progress. According to the police figures
the population of Washington is now 322,572-
! gain over 1900 of 43.S54. This is within
! 5000 of the total gain between 1890 and 1900.
! It shows for the hve-year period percentage
| of increase Of 1903. Expansion at the same
rate for the next five years would give the ma
! tiOnal capital percentage of increase for the
decade Of 3OO8 and population in 1910 Of
| 100000 Few cities on the Atlantic seaboard
| are likely to Outstrlp such record.
| Washington now stands fifteenth in the list
of our great cities In 1890 it stood thirteenth.
| Detroit and Milwaukee both passed it in 1900,
Detroit's total going to 2S5 1O4 and Milwau-
| KEGS to 2S5315 These two Western cities are
! still gaining population rapidly. and they may
| hold their own against Washington in 1910.
! But New -Orleans-nOw twelfth in ranks IN
| some danger of being OutgrOwn by all three.
! New-Orleans's population in 1900 was 2SI, 1O4,
and it's percentage of growth from 1890 to 1909
was only 1876 Unless that growth is greatly
! accelerated. New-Orleans will fall to fifteenth
| place and Washington will rise to fourteenth.
| Evidently the charms OF the federal capital
! n place of residence are beginning to make
themselves felt. No city in the United States
! offers more 10 its inhabitants and very few
| offer so much The natural growth Of the fed
! eraI government insures steady and splendid
| development to the capital, and that develop
/ ment will continue to attract population. If it
does not directly encourage manufacturing and
! general business Washington has outlived its
! period of stagnation and dependence and few
| decades more will see it a solidly pOpulous ana
prosperous as well as a rarely inspiring and
beautiful city.