Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-30
Nearly Ten Thousand Gain.

Greater Washington becomes more tnan
@ mere prideful name in the light of the
figures of the police census, just compiled.
showing an increase during the past
twelve months of 9,S12 and a total popula-
tion of 3S9. 4O3 1t was thought that the
count would disclose gain of about
5000. which would be larger than the
gains scored in the two years previous
they being respectively 3.1s6 and 5'Sl2.
But this past seasons increase not only
tops that of the year before, but more
than trebles 1t.
The question is asked. Why is WASH
ington growing so rapidly? There are no
large manufactures here, and there have
been no conspicuous extensions OF the
business community. Yet here are nearly
10000 more people locally resident at the
present than there were a year ago. They
plainly came from somewhere. and Tor
some reason. 1t is for the local statist1-
clans to ascertain whence and why.
Perhaps the lack of great manufacture
ing industries in Washington may account
in some measure for the situation. The
past season has been a hard one In the
manufacturing world. Tens of thousands
of men have been thrown out of employ
ment owing to the hard times in the bust
ness field Washington has suffered from
no such disarrangement of its population.
but has even perhaps gained from the
losses of other cities. Its industries have
prospered about as usual. and the number
Of the unemployed has not been excep-
tionally large. Its business volume has
been normal, and there has been no lack
of money in circulation. save during the
few weeks Of extreme pinching when the
whole financial world was in disarray.
The truth probably is that Washington
is to speak somewhat paradoxically.
growing upon its growth. 1t has reached
the point where its retail trade. provid-
ing for the daily needs of the people, has
enlisted a large army Of workers, whose
needs in turn have made trade. and this
tie has brought new opportunities for
workers. and thus a process of cumulative
growth has been started which has q dis
tinct effect upon the population figures.
1t is well understood that never before
were there so many winter residents in
Washington who are virtually permanent
dwellers. A few years ago these people
were mere transients. Now they are
home owners in large measure, and they
contFibpee largely to the local prosperity
by their liberal scale Of living. They not
only add to the total by their own num-
bers, but they swell the volume Of trade,
and thereby cause an increase in the num-
bers Of the workers. 1t is now widely
recognized that Washington is one Of the
most desirable places - residence in the
CT .ntry, especially during the season from
October to June.
This census encourages the belief that
in another year Washington will have
touched the $4,000 mark. II the latest
percentage of increase, which is approx
mately 3 per cent upon the basis Of the
population last year, il maintained during
the next twelve months. that total will be
practically attained. the problem in these
terms working out to q probable aggre-
gate of 349.5S5 on the first Of May, 1909.
From that point the run to the 100000
mark will be comparatively easy.