Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-09-29
BY LEON STARMONI.

UeIrOlC, MlcN., SepL. Lo.-l HIS WoN
der city of the western hemisphere,
now claiming rank as fifth in the
United States, already talks of rival
ing Chicago as metropolis of the
American midlands!
Detroit doesn't even know now how
big it is; growth is so rapid the hous'
ing facilities never catch up with
the population; but there are close to
a million people on the American side
of the river, within ten miles of the
city hall! There were 465,OOO in 1910.
Pittsburg, Baltimore, Cleveland,
Boston--Detrot insists she has pass
ed them all, and is close on the heels
of St. Louis, with Philadelphia plod-
ding along but a doubtful distance
ahead.
And this is the town that in 1900
was thirteenth in population, ranking
with such places as Milwaukee and
New Orleans-the town that went by
local time and fought construction of
the Detroit river tunnel for fear it
would make the place a way-station
between Chicago and Buffalo!
= Detroit's building permits have
passed Chicago's, and this month the
record so Tar in 1916 eclipsed tho
mark for the whole banner year Of
1915, which was $32,235,550.
Bank Sclearings on September 16
reached and left behind the total for
the high-water year Of 1915, which
was ,640.2S. That puts De.
troit in tenth place in bank clearings,
just ahead Of Cleveland. At the same
rate for the rest of the year Detroit
banks will clear more than $4,000, ,0O0,-
900. ~ ...
Bank deposits now total $297 ,000,.
900, an increase over the same time
last year Of $51,OO0,000. There are
only II banks, but there are 95
oranches-more in proportion than
hay any other city.
AS to population, Detroit's figure
based on the number of names in her
city directory as compared to the
number in 1910, when the United
States census was taken, gives her
$4,000 people within the city limits.
Stopped All Over.
But Detroit has stopped all over the
city limits-pour gallon of gasoline
into a pint cup and you'll get an idea
of what has happened: Good-sized
cities like Hamtramck (30,O00) and
Highland: Park 100000, which adjoin
Detroit; have not been taken in; but
an annexation project to come up in
the spring provides for the gobbling
of territory lying all around them,
which will make these two places,
embracing 10000 inhabitants, isolat-
ed islands within the city.
Detroit estimates the population
just at her gates, including the two
ciies mentioned, as Is per cent of her
own total SO the immediate metro
politan district is estimaed at $780,
900 plus l per cent of that number,
or $4,000.
This does not include the down.
river industrial center of Wyandotte,
which is connected with Detroit by
the continuous community of Ecorse
and River Rouge; it does. not include
the lakeside suburb Of Crosse POinte
Farms. where many Detroit million
aires nave 0idDOl dIC HioHoioiS, ~
does not include the three Canadian
cities just across the river-Wind-
sor, Sandwich and Walkerville. With
these included, Detroit would run
we'll over million.
At one time last summer there
were $4,000 people living in tents in
Detroit and Highland Park, because
they couldn't get houses to live in.
Tent DweIiers.
There are fewer tent-dwellers now,
but families are living two and three
to a house or fiat. Detroit has a
standing offer of work for 10000 me.
chanics; but there is no place for
them to live if they come.
Thousands of families have moved
to Flint, Pontiac. and other automn-
bile centers; but more thousands
keep coming.
The street cars can't carry the
crowds. People hang on the ends like
flies on a drop of syrup.
Woodward avenue at 900 p. m. is
the most congested street in America.
Detroit plans five-mile subway to
deliver north end residents some.
where north of 1.-The boulevard"
THE auto business, of course, is
responsible" many will say.
There are q automobile factories
and more than 100 plants making
parts and accessories; Detroit turns