The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-28

ingtOn. The city has undergone COM
plete change within the past twenty or
twenty-five years. and this is being made
more and more manifest each year.
Formerly Washington was looked upon
as a mirage, so 10 speak. For few
months in the year it was, and then for
a longer period IL was not. The nation
looked upon the Capital as city only
while Congress was in session. and this
judgment was to a greater or less ex-
tent true. Comparatively few looked
upon Washington as a permanent place
OF abode A vast portion of the city's
population was ncmadic The families
moved to Washington during one ad-
ministration, while the breadwinners
held office. and when their terms expired
they would fold their tents and silently
steal away" going back to the States
which they had always continued 10
think OF as home" during their sojourn
in Washington. II seemed never to oc-
cur 10 The Ofticeholders of a few years
ago that when their terms should ex-
pire Washington would be an admirable
place in which to seek other avenues OF
endeavor.
In those days Washington occupied the
same relative position i'll the minds of
that the little villages, which spring up
around the summer palaces of kings,
hold I'm the eyes OF subjects in other
lands. So long as Congress was in ses>
sion. Washington was looked upon as a
place of interest and Importance, but
after the God be with you till we meet
again" had been sung. then the Ma
tional Capital would sink into a COM
again called the lawmakers to order.
Change in Z Decade.
What a change one or two decades
have made. Today Washington is fast
becoming one of the great home cities
of the New World. People who come
10 scott remain to make their fortunes
and revel IN the legitimate pleasures OF
life, after their terms of Office are over
One of the chief factors in bringing
about this change Of affairs has been
the establishment OF the civil service
system. Now the Government employe
can afford TO acquire property and es-
tabHsh a home for he has no need TO
fear a change Of administration so long
as his work is performed satisfactorily.
Today there are hundreds and thousands
Of Government employees who are buy
ing homes. or building according to their
own plans They are able 10 calculate
5ust what they are able TO put aside each
month 10 make payments on property
for their income is assured, and there
are no fascinations of the labor market
which are apt TO affect them disas-
trously.
Thus. thousands of families are pur-
suing the even tenor of their way
whereas twenty-five years ago every
household was occupying rented quar-
tiers. and there was d constant chang
ing and shifting OF locations. There
was 10 be observed everywhere an air
OF uneasiness formerly, fer the next
election might completely change the
character of the population Ivy bringing
new employees into every department.
Today Washington has larger per-
centage Of fixed resicents than almost
any other city in the land.
While many can be found who VIII
look with misgiving upon the statement
that some day Washington will De
great metropolis in the fullest accepta-
ton of the term, there are none who will
gainsay the fact that is a residence
city the Capital offers more advantages
and inducements than any other munich
pality in the country. Here is 10 be
found the center of culture and refine
meat of the nation. Here one may meet
the representative men and representa-
tive families from every State in the
Union. The most refined element of the
New World comes 10 Washington and
resides here at least a large portion of
the time.
In Natural Advantages.
The city's natural advantages are
numerous. 1t is situated on the head
waters of the Potomac. on the middle
ground between the North and the
South, where neither the winters are
too rigorous nor the summers too en-
eryating. The happy medium in point
of climate may be found here The
District government is controlled IN
such a way as to afford ample police pro-
lection and the National Government
IS behind the District government in
always maintaining law and order for
the safeguarding of life and property.
The FIRE protection is efficient. The
streets of Washington are the pride Of
the nation and the envy OF less FORUM
ate trade centers. The city's trees have
made this The garden spot of America
for children. The public and private
school advantages are numerous and
altogether conImendable. The religious
and moral tone of the city so far as
the permanent residents are concerned,
is OF the highest order,
There is no vast foreign and unedu-
Gated element to prove a constant men
ace to peace and order. Washington has
no genuine Stun district, no repelling
tenement sections. no Mulberry streets.
no Chinatowns. Any one of these adj
Vantages would be an inducement for
the homeseeker. but when all are COM
bined 1t leaves no doubt in even the
most skeptical and pessimistic mind
that Washington Is the ideal residential
city of the United States. This IS not
a mere theory. but is being demonstrate
ed daily by the number OF families
which are coming here TO live. This
influx is unheralded. There is no noise
and Juror about it all. Neither do we
hear OF IL until We go TO investigate
with the specific purpose in view OF
finding out just what is occurring in the
matter of the exodus of people from less
favored sections TO our own city. We
know but little of the home-life of
70, III te.f