The Washington times., 1906-01-28


powers that be. better tnan In the Ma
tons Capital2
Those Who viii not concede TO Wash
fngton anything but secondary posi-
tion In the future of America Forget that
New York had the advantage or nearly
hundred and fifty years start New
York was the Marseiu 8 OF the New
World when our Charlemagne first de-
termined upon the site OF the city which
bears his name. They doubtless do not
take into consideration that We have
not had the immense deposits II coal
and iron from which TO enrich ourselves
as have Pittsburg and other mining cit
les. They do not take into account that
ours has not been the center of a boom
section Ike the wheat6eld country sur
rounding Chicago. The growth of the
city OF Washington has been attribu-
table TO but one great cause and that
is the same which viii make a Greater
Washington" a proud reanty in the
years 10 come.
The fact that this city has gone for
ward TO its present enviable position is
truly remarkable when we take into con-
sideration that ours is very young ma
tton In which thus far the chief con-
Germ Of it's people has been the secur-
ing OF homes-a winning of the country
from the primeval wilderness. AS we
become more and more settled and ac-
custOmed 10 ollr surroundings. the state
OF affairs that has come aDOut in Eu-
rope VIII inevitably take place here.
There must be that influx to the ma
tons heart from which emanate not
merely the laws OF our people. but. the
medium of exchange. the life blood
OF eommerce-money.
The Center of the System.
Ours is the center of the national sys.
tenn about which all other municipalities
and commemorative must revolve, as
planets and their satellites about the
sun. Toward Washington must gravi-
sas- fHaf inf
ests. and their general welfare
The unTeasoning pessimist who does
not think there is such thing as a
Greater Washington in the years TO
come maintains his position on the
ground that this city has not developed
as have some OF the other municipal
ties in the same section of the country.
The man forgets. however, that the CON
ditions which have governed Washing
ton and her growth have been unlike
Ethose which any other city III the world
has ever before faced.
Towns and villages as a rule attribute
their beginning to some condition or con-
ditions which have demanded first the
establishment OF a crossroads store,
which gradually developed into set
Element. No such primary and growing
demand was responsible for Washing
tons beginning. Il had TO build itself
up without the elementary backing OF
Necessity on the part OF contiguous ter
tTitory. Today people from surrounding
countries and smaller cities flock 10
Washington as a commercial center. No
other city known to ancient or modern
times has been forced 10 undergo the
necessity OF creating the demand. with
such an unfavorable condition IN It's IN
fancy the expansion OF our city has
been truly remarka bic rather than dis
,heartening We are at the present time
entering upon the golden era The hard
battle for existence is over. ana the ner-
lchant. real estate man. fnancier, and
wholesaler may now move forward with
.rspid strides. for he has an ever-lncreas-
ing demand at hand.
The Changing Viewpoint.
Not more than one or two decades
have passed since Washington was
looked upon throughout America merely
as the assembling place of Congress.
The city's commercial status was nil. 1t
was the consensus CT opinion that
Washington was only a city for two or
three months in each year. It's position
as a trading center and as a financial
stronghold was wholly disregarded. and.
as a matter OF fact. there was aDpar-
ent ground for such an assumption.
Congress had lost interest in the Dis
trict but few new buildings were in
the course of construction and gem
eral apathy pervaded the atmosphere
of the entire Capital
Visitors TO the city came as mere sight
reers of public buildings. They did not
consider shopping here any more than
does the average visitor 10 Mammoth
Cave XIV, expect 10 make general puT-
Chases at the little hamlet at the mouth
of the great natural curiosity. This con-
dition OF affairs is within the memory
OF thousands OF persons now resi-
n a nd
tTict. Then the commerce of the sec
tiOn was transacted through Baltimore
and Philadelphia
What do We find today7 II is needless
20 recite the fact that our city is now
the permanent home OF people in every
walk of life. It's population is not
transient and migratory. In commercial
and financial matters the National Cap
ital is forging 10 the front with titanic
strides. IL IS safe to say that no city
in America Is making the rapid progress
,in every conceivable line OF activity
that Washington is today. This is not
an idle boast. Government statistics
win show. the wonderful advancement
being made. but better still. and more
indicative Of the vastly greater future
of tho city, is the general air OF hone
fulness and prosperity that Is evident
on all sides, There Is an esprit de corps
among the merchants ana among the
citizens in general which shows the
trend of thought and action here.
The Pessimist Not Wanted.
Search the nation over and the pessi-
mist will not find within its bounds a
more uncongenial and unsympathetic
place IN which TO croak his misgivings
and forebodings than in this city OF
ours
The surface reason for this general
air Of optimism is that the merchant
and the banker are meeting with fin
ancial success. The real estate man is
finding that his holdings are daily en-
hancing in value. and the wage Garner
finds no trouble in securing lucrative
employment. These. as have been said,
are the surface reasons. But undeFly-
ing each of these reasons is one gen
eTal basic principle that has brought
about these conditions and viii cause
them 10 continue to exist. 1t is the fact
that Washington is the handspring of
the nation The general welfare and
prosperity that exists in every section
Of our great country is concentrated
here. Prosperity is reciprocated as re-
CARDS the nation and Washington
What is being felt In other centers Of
commercial activity is aceentuated and