The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-15
WONDERS WORKED
| IN C|TY's STATUS
u 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.

1t was a very general opinion
throughout the country that the De-
troit of 1900 was nothing more than
a 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 IN
more wide-awake fields.
Whatever measure of truth there
was in this criticism in 1900 there Is
no one who would venture TO make IL
today. The facts about Detroit are
\ known in every corner OF the country
where a Detroit-made automobile has
stuck it's hood, and would be too
strong against any such assertion. In
1900 Detroit was thirteenth among
the cities of the United States. While
It was one of the substantial manu-
& featuring cities it was regarded as n
CITY rather out OF the line of industrial
& progress. No one could deny Its
4 great natural advantages, as to sftua-
ton. both from the standpoint OF the
manufacturer and from the standpoint
s OF the man who was TO make the city
his home, but somehow the business
4 did not seem to be here.
Then In the short space or ten
years there came the awakening, the
slow conservative city put on seven
4 league boots and made such rapid
\ strides that it made up for all the OPP
portunities that had been lost in the
mast In the short period between two
B 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
X to be ninth in population among the
cities OF the United States and one
df the fifty great cities of the world.
The astounding record of a growth or
g per cent in population in ten years,
larger portion of IL 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
waterways into the great west that
neem to be established forever as the
Ereat cities OF the country.
Detroit, however, is destined to be
z the gateway into another territory,
y fully as rich as the great American
West and having the same wonderful
8tlture possibilities. This great field
- the Dominion Of Canada, to which
Detroit offers unparalleled facilities
for access when once the gate is open
Cd by a broad treaty of reciprocity.
This is a development to which De-
tfoit can look forward; 1t is part OF
the future that Is In store for the city
IL the straits.
Automobile Great Factor.
The main factor in advertising De-
troit has been the automobile. Ten
wears ago the automobile was an ex-
pertinent, a more or less interesting
and expensive toy. People stopped I'm
the street to watch one go by 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 to be desig-
Hated by names, they are all num-
bered and license tags are getting
longer every year. II you stop In the
streets to look at one automobile you
stand very good chance of being hit
by four more coming from as many
directions. The automobile, especial
iy the Detroit-made automobile, has
become a part OF modern civilization.
4 In the populariZation 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 a few
4 hundred cars year. Today there is
\ more than $40,000,000 invested I'm
+ blants for the manufacture of automo-
biles and parts in Detroit Workmen
By the thousands are employed in big
bew plants all over the city and the
weekly payroll runs into hundreds OF
thousands. With the automobile es-
tablished as one of the necessities OF
B modern civilization and the unparalleled
facilities for that industry that have
been built up in Detroit, the future OF
the city seems to look ever brighter
than the past.
other Lines Expand.
The growth in population, due,
largely. TO the wonderful expansion OF
the automobile trade, has forced an
Expansion In every other line that
loilches the public or commercial life.
One OF the vital parts of a modern
tity II its transportation system. The
. reports OF the Detroit United Rail
way for the past 10 years, show what
has been done along this line. The
mileage Of the system has increased
rom 1876 miles of track TO 755 miles
low in operation. There will be add.
IA TO tina within the near future sew
&rnl much needed additions to take
hare OF the Increased traffic.
The mileage given above includes
he suburban lines which are under
|<n control OF the Detroit United.
>ne radiate out from Detroit In all
.1... - lima And awe the CITY oufolr