The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-01-24
rnE oaowrH or wAsnInoron
Its Population Increasing at surpris
ingly Rapid Rate.


Its Population Increasing at a surpris
ingiy Rapid Rate.
A census just taken by the Washing
ton police shows that the national cap
ltaI's population is increasing at a sur
prisingly rapid rate. A city built &c
order for purposes OF government AND
lacking manufactures. shipping and
wholesale trade, Washington has de
yeloped along lines peculiarly its own
II has had 10 grow In default OF any
natural advantages as center OF com
merce or industry. Overshadowed by
Baltimore. 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 10 such slow and painful growth
as II could achieve through the broad
ening Of the Federal service and the
Federal governments activities What
population II had II attracted simply
and solely because II was the seat OF
Federal power. and TO the present time
its character as 4 capital still wholly
dominates its character a. a city.
There are indications. however. In
the census jist taken that Washington
is beginning to grow az city faster
than Il is growing as a seat OF govern
ment Since 1890. certainly. the pop
ulation OF the District OF Columbia has
expanded out OF ratio 10 any expan-
sion In the limits OF the Federal ser
vice. The census OF 1890 showed a
total OF 230. 1892 Inhabitants in the Fed
eral district BY 1900 the total had
increased TO 27s.Tis- This gave Wash.
ington a percentage OF increase for the
decade OF 20e-a higher rate than
that reached by Philadelphia. This
discovery caused some surprise. for II
suggested that in spite OF it's aandicaps
as a non-manufacturing town the ma
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 stu
more remarkable progress. According
20 the police figures the population Of
Washington Is now 322.572-s gain
over 100 OF 1854. This is within
5000 OF the total gains between 1890
and 1900. IL shows for the fye-yezr
period a percentage OF Increase OF
1903. Expansion at the same rate for
the next ave years would give the m,
tional capital percentage OF increase
for the decade OF s0.o6 and a popuis-
ton in 1910 OF $4,000. Few cities on
the Atlantic seabosrd are likely 70 out
strip such a record
Washington now stands fifteenth ir
the list OF our great cities. In 1890 II
stood thirteenth Detroit and Milwau-
kee both passed II In 1900. Detro,rs
total going TO 2s5.7os and Milwaukee's
10 2s5.3i5. These two western cities
are still gaining population rapidly,
and they may hold their own against
Washington In 1910. Bur New orleana
now twelfth In ranks IN somt
danger OF being outgrown by all thres
New Orleans population In 1900 Wal
psf, ios. and fits percentage OF growth
from 1890 10 1900 was only 1919. On
less that growth is rapidly acceler
ated. New Orleans viii fall 20 fifteenth
place and Washington will rise x
, fourteenth. Evidently the charms OF
the Federal capital as q place Of rexi-
dence are beginning 10 make them
selves felt. No city in the United State,
offers more 20 its inhabitants and very
few offer so much. The natural growth
Of the Federal government insures {
steady and splendid development &c
the capital. and that development viii
continue to attract population II q
does not directly encourage manufso
turing and general business. Washing
ton has outlived its period of stagns-
ton and dependence. and few dec
ades moro will see II solidiy popu
lous and prosperous as well as a rarely
inspiring and beautiful city.