The Washington times., 1909-04-17
CHANCE FOR CITYS
COMMERCE GROWS
Boom Is Now on for
Waterfront Real
Estate.
WATERWAYS TO PLAY
AN IMPORTANT PART
Chamber of Commerce Encourag-
ing the Location of Manufac-
turing Industries Here.

That the water front, between Thir-
teenth street and the new Aqueduct
bridge, within the next few years, will
become lined with commercial houses
and(eXteasive shipping interests; that
this growth will be supplemented by
the building of manufacturing plants
across the river in Alexandria county,
end at other places convenient to both
water and railway transportation IA
cillties; that Washington, in short, Is on
the verge Of being transformed into a
commercial and manufacturing center,
which will give It rank with the prin-
cipal cities Of the East in this respect.
is the belief OF those persons who have
10 the slightest degree tested the drift
of the industrial current which has been
sweeping across the boundaries OF the
National Capital since the first Of the
year.
Commercial Feature.
The "commerciaT' feature has crept
into the real estate field. and made its
presence felt to an unprecedented de-
gree. Whatever force in the form Of
sentiment" may have successfully
combated the tendency toward indus
trialism in the past. is undoubtedly los
ing ground This is proven by the ac-
ing Up wharfage properties on large
scale along the~water front, and IN the
placing of stock for the erection OF large
manufacturing concerns.
Although the fact is not generally
known. Georgetown, before Washington
existed as a city, was a commercial
center and took the lead as a -four,
whisky, and tobacco market
In the first few years OF its prosperity.
after the revolutionary war, 1,2l1,9o3
barrels of -four and 42455 barrels Of
rreaf frr. rFu
S9,935, 96f. were shipped through the port
Oh Georgetown. The city acquired a
reputation as a shipbuiiding point and
was the home port for large number
OF vessels which piled regularly between
foreign countries. and, in domestic
trade, as Ear as Fort Usage. on the Mis-
souri,, 10 Lake Erie. and to Mobile.
Prestige Being Restored.
Then, by degrees. the industrial pres
4ige OF the little town began TO dwindle.
Notwithstanding that it offered induce
ments IN the way Of exemption from
taxation and did everything that d
growing. thriving town can do to main
tain its prosperity. the development OF
other parts Of the country. and the
building up OF transportation facilities,
which IL did not enjoy. especially with
respect TO inland trade. gradually put
Georgetown far down on the list of the
leading commercial cities OF the coun-
try.
tide Is now setting back. Progress hav-
ing made one broad sweep over the con-
tinent, leVeling down the forces OF ma
ture 70 the demands of the fast-growing ng
population OF the nation. apparently is
going TO begin again at its early start
ing point, with the object OF enlargine
and DerfeCting its preliminary work in
GSyeloping the entire country.
Chamber Of Commerce.
IN this new era Of development
Washington, on account OF the relation
Il now bears to the general transporta-
lion systems OF the United States and
the world at large, promises 70 come in
for the greatest amount Of attention OF
all OF those commercial points which
have heretofore received a limited
amount Of development. and which. with
.&e disappearance Of the few remaining
Sndeveloped sections Of the nation mus
take their place in the post renaissance
OF expansion.
while outside capital will play big
part in the commercial development Ui
Washington. II will be assisted By Z
local organization which has already &C
COmplshed no little IN preparing Tn,
way for industrial activity and may b'
relied upon 10 constantly enlarge The
1ast-ErOwing sentiment at home ~
favor of commercial growth. This bodI
IS the Chamber Of Commerce which 4
IlOW IMhAllE iAC fDilTt tiluAlDil hlIltillfu II
order that n may subscribe with th'
funds Of itg own treasury 10 the stool
Of reputable manufacturing concerns
which are attempting to establish them
selves in the National Capital.
The Shoe Factory.
As a result OF the interest displayed
by the Chamber Of Commerce, which
IS representative of the entire popula
tion OF Washington, it is already prac
tically certain that a large shoe fac
tory will be established here, whicl
will make employment for 200 persons
The Chamber. also. will probably Civ
its Endorsement to the proposition o
Pittsburg promoters to establish Il
washington an electric truck manufac
turing plant. In both Of these project
the Individual members Of the Chambe
have subscribed for stock. and the out
i4look is that both plants will begil
operation by another year.
The establishment Of manufacture
will create a demand for increases
waterway transportation facilities, am
that development in this respect vii
keep pace with their establishment 1