Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-22
Washington's Commercial Growth.
10 the Editor OF The Star

To the Editor OF The Star
4 communication from one OF your
correspondents printed in The Star or
Friday evening under the heading Com
mercial Growth Not Wanted will natu-
rally. through the wide circulation or
your newspaper. attract the attention or
a great many readers, and | feel that
few words in regard to the situation as
viewed by those who take a position d.
ferent from that of Mr.. Swartwout are
timely.
1t is beyond the comprehension OF a
very large circle of the residents and
business men of this city to understand
why there can be any rational opposi-
ton to the commercial development of
Washington, provided, of course, that the
objects of those seeking this develop
ment are clearly understood.
/ have been familiar for some time win
the aims Of the manufacturers commit
tee of the Chamber of Commerce and
with the scope Of its plans, having been
a member of that committee since the
organization of the chamber. Not mem
Der of that committee would favor the
introduction into the District OF Columbia
of any form of industry the establish
ment of which would prove obnoxious or
Objectionable in the slightest degree. |
am not sure that any of the committee
believe even in the slightest modification
of the smoke law. Manufacturing can
be carried on without the smoke nuisance
and is being carried on today i'm Wash
ington to a considerable greater extent
than is generally known. partially
through the efforts of the manufactur-
ers' committee of the chamber which has
already succeeded in establishing In this
city a number of industries. large
automobile concern. manufacturing cleo
trio delivery cars i'm South Washington.
is running its plant day and night ana
developing the large horsepower neces-
sary to operate its extensive MACHINERY
equipment without any one ever having
seen the emission of sparks or smoke
from its chinlneys Around the corner
from this factory is another concern
started in Washington within com
paratively recent period and manufactur-
ing toys upon an extensive basis. ami
which will ultimately employ seyeral
hundred operators. This industry is also
operating without creating the smoke
nuisance.
AS a matter of fact. the development Of
the gas engine and electrically driven
machinery is advanced to the point where
the smoke nuisance is positively no longer
to be considered in the matter.
In addition to the two instances referred
TO numerous other enterprises have been
started here through the efforts of the
local commercial bodies. most OF them
catering very largely to trade beyond the
borders of the District of Columbia and
thereby bringing money into the CITY
from outside places. These establish
ments already giving employment 10
considerable number of people, and
with the present activity of the Chamber
Of Commerce along this line IL Is reason
able to suppose that other factories viii
be started here. each of them adding 10
the material prosperity Of the city.
1t is all we'll enough TO cite esthetic
objections to the development of the COM
mercial possibilities of the National Cap
ital but no practical reason has ever
been advanced to why IL should not
he done After all. Uncle Sam Will al
ways be the principal employer in this
city, and many hundreds OF men In the
government service are confronted an
nually with the problem of finding suit
able employment. for their sons because
of the fact that the city has not hereto
fore offered opportunities i'm commercial
life for young men and women. This
fact alone should be sufficient reason
for the effort being made TO increase the
business OF the city. even IL the fact that
every business I'm Washington necessarily
receives at least an indirect benefit from
the commercial development Of WASH
ington be overlooked.
III. c. c. STILES.