The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-08
WONDERS WORKED
IN C|TY'S STATUS
IN DECADE
Detroit, Called "0vergrown Village
Ten Years Ago, Now Recognized as
Commercial Center, With Rapid
ly Expanding Population.
Automobile Leading Factor in Great
Industrial Growth-Gateway To
Canada.

II was very general opinion
throughout the country that the De-
troit OF 1900 was nothing more than
somewhat overgrown village, a
slow conservative unprogressiye city
with little ambition and less business
city OF retired lumbermen and min
ers who built their homes in Detroit
after spending their active careers III
more wide-awake fields.
whatever measure Of truth there
was In this criticism In 1900 there Is
no one who would venture TO make II
today The facts about Detroit are
known In every corner OF the country
where a Detroit-made automobile has
stuck its hood, and would be too
strong against any such assertion. In
1900 Detroit was thirteenth among
the cities OF the United States. While
II was, ono OF the substantial manu-
featuring cities II was regarded as q
city rather out OF the line OF Industrial
progress. No one could deny its
great natural advantages, as to situa-
ton, both from the standpoint OF the
manufacturer and from the standpoint
OF the man who was to make the city
his home, but somehow the business
did not seem to be here.
Then IN the short space OF ten
years there came the awakening, the
slow conservative city put on seven
league boots and made such rapid
strides that It made up for all the OBJ
portunities that had been lost in the
past In the short period between two
ceusus enumerations. Today Detroit
is recognized as one OF the half dozen
cities OF the United States that have
metropolitan future before them
and are taking advantage OF the OPP
portunities for progress in every line.
The census OF 1910 showed Detroit
to be ninth In population among the
cities OF the United States and one
OF the fifty great cities OF the world.
The astounding record of growth or
SO per cent in population in ten years,
a larger portion Of it within five years,
established its position in the eyes
OF the country.
At the present rate OF growth the
population will be more than 100000
by the time the next census Is taken,
and Detroit will be established as the
sixth city in the United States follow
ing after the five great cities, three
on the Atlantic coast and two at the
gateways into the great west that
seem TO be established forever as the
great cities OF the country.
Detroit, however, is destined 70 be
the gateway into another territory,
fully as rich as the great American
West and having the same wonderful
future possibilities. This great field
Is the Dominion OF Canada. 10 which
Detroit offers unparalleled facilities
for access when once the gate is open
ed by a broad treaty OF reciprocity.
This Is a development TO which De
troit can look forward; II Is part OF
the future that is IN store for the city
OF the straits.
Automobile Great Factor.
The main factor In advertising De-
trOit has been the automobile. Ten
years ago the automobile was an ex-
pertinent. a more or less interesting
and expensive toy People stopped in
the street to watch one go Ny and
owners We'd with one another In Sc
lecting terrifying names with which
To Brighten people who talked about
their machines Those days are al
most forgotten now. Automobiles
have long since ceased 10 be desig-
mated by names. they are all mum
bered and license tags are getting
longer every year. II you stop in the
streets 10 look al one automobile you
stand very good chance OF being hit
by four more coming from as many
directions. The automobile. especial
~ the Detroitmade automobile. has
become a past OF modern civilization.
In the poDularization OF the auto
mobile Detroit has had more TO do
than any other city in the world. Ten
years ago the automobile factories OF
the city were two or three little exper-
mental shops that turned out few
hundred cars a year. Today there is
more than S40.000.000 invested in