Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-09-15
THE GROWTH OF WASHINGTON
ts Population Increasing at a surpris
ingly Rapid Rate.

'HG onOWIH OF WARRINGTON
Its Population Increasing at surpris
ingly Rapid Rate.
A census Just taken by the Washing
ton police shows that the national cap
ltafs population is increasing at a sur
prlsingly rapid rate. A city built to
order for purposes of government ana
lacking manufactures, shipping and
wholesale trade, Washington has de-
Veioped along lines peculiarly its own.
IL mas had to grow In default of any
natural advantages as a center of com
merce or industry Overshadowed by
baltlmore, only forty miles distant,
ana with no territory Of Its own to
uraw 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 broad.
enins OF the Federal service and the
rederal governments activities. What
population 1t had it attracted simply
ana solely because It was the seat of
Federal power, and to the present time
It's character as q 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 1t Is growing as a seat OF govern.
ment Since 1890, certainly. the non
ulation of the District of Columbia has
expanded out Of ratio to any expan.
sion in the limits of the Federal ser.
vice. The census Of 1890 showed n
total of 23O,392 inhabitants In the Fed
eral district. BY 1900 the total had
increased to 27s,71S. This gave Wash.
ington percentage of increase for the
decade OF 20.9-a higher rate than
that reached by Philadelphia. Thi,
discovery caused some surprise, for Il
suggested that in spite of it's handcaps
as communicating town the M.
tional capital could still compete for
population with two great nearby cen
tiers of industry and commerce like
Philadelphia and Baltimore. The cen.
sus OF this year gives evidence of still
more remarkable progress. According
to the police figures the population of
Washington is now 322,572-a gain
over 1900 OF 1884 This is within
5000 of the total gains between 1890
| and 1900. 1t shows for the flve-year
| period a percentage OF increase of
1908. Expansion at the same rate for
the next five years would give the ma
ttonal capital a percentage of increase
for the decade Of 3O.06 and a popula-
ton In 1910 of $4,000. Few cities on
the Atlantic seaboard are likely to out.
strip such record.
Washington now stands fifteenth In
the list of our great cities. In 1890 II
stood thirteenth. Detroit and Milwau-
kee both passed It in 1900, Detroit'a
total going to 2S5,704 and Milwaukee's
to 2S5,315. 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 population in 1900 was
2S7, lO4, and Its percentage OF growth
| from 1890 to 1900 was only 1876. IN
less that growth Is rapidly acceler-
ated, New Orleans VIII fall to fifteenth
place and Washington will rise to
fourteenth. Evidently the charms of
the Federal capital as a place of resi-
dence are beginning to make them.
selves felt. No city In the United State
offers more to its inhabitants and very
few offer so much. The natural growth
Of the Federal government lnsures {
steady and splendid development to
the capital, and that development will
continue to attract population, II g.
does not directly encourage manufao
turing and general business. Washing
ton has outlived It's period of stagna-
ton and dependence, and few deo-
AIDES more will see 1t solidly popu-
lous and prosperous as well as a rarely
| inspiring and beautiful city.