Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-30

1t is a curious notion about cities that
comedies a growth in the total population
and very large one. too. yet expresses
surprise when the actual situation is
realized. In other words the average per-
son when he talks about the increase in
the number of those who live in certain
place really does not realize he
means until he sees such growth exprAss-
ed in the opening of streets In new thor
oughfares and in rows of houses and
groups of such structures and the school
houses and churches and stores which
every center of population requires or at
any rate possesses.
There is no doubt that few persons In
the city have questioned the recent esti-
mates made by DR.. TindalI. the secretary
Of the board of Commissioners. in regard
to the average rate of increase in The
population for each year since 1900 or UP
to the close Of the last decennial period of
the United States census. The conclusion
was reached that on an average 7,2J3 per-
sons had been added to the population OF
the city each year for the past eight
years. But even If for any reason there
had been, doubt in, regard to the accuracy
Of such conclusion still by, pursuing
different method from that by which Dr.
Tindali reached his result much the same
end would without question have been
reached.
A survey could have been made of the
city In sections and II an actual counting
by looking around one could have be-
come convinced that there had been a
great expansion in the number of resi-
dents here. For otherwise how account
for the people who have practically flied
up the section Of the city in the vicinity
OF and east OF" Lincoln Park. The stretch
OF commons between that point and the
Eastern Branch has disappeared. and the
- L. ooho IL
three blocks of the public reservation
where the jail Is located.
East Commons Eliminated.
One does not leave the region Of houses
in rows in passing east along Pennsylvania
avenue at Sth street, where the cars turn
in going to the navy yard. Such an ex-
perience belongs to the past, when there
were commons east Of the Capitol, but
now one goes practically to the end of
the car line. which is the bridge across
the Eastern branch. before he leaves the
closely built-up section of the city.
The houses not merely cluster about the
car line along Pennsylvania avenue, as is
apt to be the case. but have spread out
aiong the parallel and abutting streets
both north and south.
The Congressional cemetery is no longer
approached by drive across solitary
and deserted region, for the city. in the
form Of soiidly built-up streets, is already
at its gates. The western boundary of its
grounds is along 18th street, while in the
legion TO the south Of East Capitol street
10th street must now be called the limit
of the city's advance thus far. North OF
the cemetery comes the large space given
up to the Jail and other institutions, and
the western line OF that property is along
10Th street SO that the progress Of the
city in that direction can easily be under
stood, even II 1t Is not generally realized
by people who do not go about and be-
ofv1ta ,ftr
they live.
Now q Residential Center.
A few years ago. when the car barn OF
the railway company was built couple
Of squares east of Lincoln Park, il stood
far out in the commons. away from all
habitations. Today 1T is residential CEN
ter so to speak, and If one enjoys look
ing at smooth lawns adorned with foil
age plants that SO brighten the home sec
lions of the city. then he can see what
will please him along East Capitol street
east Of Lincoln Park. precisely as well as
west of that reservation.
Standing at the corner of 18th and
South Carolina avenue, one can look an all
directions and see the rows of new
houses. a fine new schoolhOuse on b
street and churches recently built and all
the elements OF community life Also all
the modern features, for is there not an
apartment house on A street east of 18th
street southeast? 1t is true that it is
only two-story building, but still the To-
cality is new yet, and the skyscrapers will
come soon enough, or at least at such
heights as the beneficent building regula-
tions Of the city permit SO as to preserve
the rights of the public to air and light.
In this section and at the northeast
corner of 18th and B streets southeast
are TO be found the houses erected by
F. B. McAuliffe and sold by James F.
Shea while on the streets out from Lin
coin Park are some Of the improvements
made by William Murphy. On 18th street
Just south Of Lincoln Park one comes
upon the new houses which j. c. Weldon
& Co. are placing on the market.
Many Modern Houses.
North of East Capitol street the course
of new buildings has not gone quite as
far east as is the case on the south side,
for in the former locality 18th street m
stead of 18th street is the farthest east
for rows OF houses. The ground between
18th and 18th streets and A street and
North Carolina avenue northeast, with