The Washington times., 1906-01-28
BUILDING OPERATIONS
SHOW FAITH IN FUTURE


Nothing is either good or i'll. but
thinking makes it SO" once wrote a di-
vlnely inspired poet. AS this is true in
our Individual lives 80 it Is likewise APP
plicable 10 civic life After he mind
is master of our advaneemeE, OF retro
erosion. II a people are FIRMLY con-
WINGED that the future holds great things
I'm store for them. their success is as
sured.
Upon nrst sight this proposition would
seem so simple as TO make il APP
pear easy for any community or
any Individual 10 mount 10 the
highest rungs of the ladder of
success. But as matter Of fact IL Is
as hard FOR one 10 become thoroughly
convinced OF his future success as it is
Tor him genuinely TO succeed. The idea
and the achievement are correlative.
Where We find belief in the rewards OF
endeavor. we are in practically every
instance sooner or later 10 see that
achievement is the faithful handmaiden
Of our desires and our faith
The investor, who finds a comments
IN which the citizens as a whole are
thoroughly imbCed with a belief in the
future advancement of that city. may
safely count upon the fulfllment OF
these expectations. The great difficulty
in such instances, however. is to differ,
entiate between tho genuine belief OF a
city in its own future greatness and
the customary braggadocia and grand
Eloquent Phrases which are nothing more
than "A hollow mockery to deceive the
unwary.
Faith Shown IN Works.
The habit of saying We have a great
and growing city Is 10 De observed in
practically every American town. but
the surcst criterion by which TO estimate
the sincerity of the people as TO their
belief in>the future development of their
city is to note the number and the char
acter Of investments being made by local
business men and financial leaders.
It is upon this latter ground that
Washington is willing to stand the most
scrutinizing investigation OF those who
are skeptiCal about the belief OF her
citizens in Greater Washington" No
city of it's size in America today has
advanced in such a remarkable degree
I'm building operations within the past
few years.
For the sake of Illustration. a review
Of the mercantile and Office buildings re
Gently erected will reveal a peculiar fact.
Ten or twelve years ago there were not
more than one or two really frst-class
office buildings in the city. Today Wash
ington boasts OF some of the handsomest
and most modernIy appointed buildings
of this class in the country.
No Skyscrapers Here.
While there are no skyserapers here
such as may he found i'm the larger cen
tiers Of trade. this is not due to any
lack of DrogTcssivcucss or any unwilling
ness on the part of moneyed interests 10
erect giant structures In the National
Capital. but is due 20 the height limit
fixed ny the District government. With
I'm the past two OF three Yeas Office
buildings have been erected. which show
that the owners believe i'm the great eX-
pgnsion OF trade and I'm the development
of This ci,y ass the headquarters for
many Of tho manufacturing, insurance,
and financial institutions doing business
throughout tho South
This building movement was not of a
htfuI character. The work has cOntin-
ued and is continuing. Bank buildings
are now going up. and magnificent cfflce
structures ere being planned, FOR which
the foundations viii Dee laid during The
course % the present year. This not on
" signifies that there Is a faith i'm the
future development of tho city. but that
a great demand for office room has
gradually made itself felt here.
The office building movement is only
one line OF activity i'm which the money
I'd men have demonstrated their genera;
belief in the Washington OF the future.
L
apart nent houses are being erected so
rapidly that certain neighborhoods Wis
lied "a year ago present an entirely
s range and unfamiliar appearance to
the person passing throU gh the same
section today. This statement can be
verified by any reader who Is incredu-
lOus. What is Of sun greater Importance