Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-08
National Capital NoiO
Mighty Center Of Ac-
tivjty, Due to War

The city of Washington, d. c., has
become a mighty center of activity,
and is enjoying the greatest boom
in its history, making it a spot OF more
than ordinary interest to the many
visiting tourists who throng Its thor
oughfares day by day. Nothing like
it has ever been experienced there be-
fore, and it is all directly traceable to
the abnormal conditions created by
the great world war, and this nations
active participation in it. The army
and navy departments, civil service
commission, food commission, fuel adj
min!stration, and other lesser depart
ments and bureaus have become ver-
table hives of human industry and &C
tivity, and the boom has struck, not
only official Washington, but is being
felt turnout the city in practically
every line of business and trade.
In order to house its rapidly expand
ing business, large apartment house
in the residential section OF the city
was rushed to completion, and taken
over by the government, but the con-
struction and repair division OF the
quartermaster's corps and ground has
been since broken for another similar
structure, which will be occupied as
soon as it can be made ready. Prac-
tically an entire office building has
been taken for the use Of the new war
trade building. while the food admin
istraton is quartered temporarily in
tourist hotel, pending the completion
of it's own building. Nearly one hun
dred rented buildings are now being
used by the government. while many
have been, and are now, being erected
to accommodate the needs of the coun-
Gil of national defense and certain
branches of the Red Cross and the food
and fuel administration.
A few months ago the ordnance
bureau had 81 officers. On Nov. l 1t
had nearly 1900, which will eventually
be increased to nearly 5000. The
quartermaster corps has increased
from handful of officers and a few
clerks, to a large force which now oc-
cupies an entire building. Within the
past six months. the civil service COM
mission has certified for employment
nearly $4,000 persons, and is in
creasing the number at the rate of
several hundred day
Tens Of thousands of strangers
crowd the city, who are employed in,
the governments rapidly expanding
business; men in Khaki and navy blue,
and even the uniforms of the allied ma
lions, are to be seen everywhere; So
900 soldiers are quartered in, and with
in easy access to the city, and fully
10000 civilians have been added to the
government pay rolls. during the last
six months. New bureaus recently
provided for have added thousands
more to the constantly expanding list
of employees, until at the present time
there are about $1,000 names enrolled
with an annual ay-roll of, approx
mately. s20.o00,0oo.
Rents have increased from 10 to so
per cent and in many instances fami-
lies have sub-let their homes and
apartments because of the unusual OPP
portunities for turning profit. Well
located furnished houses and apart
ments bring substantially any price
that may be asked, and many apart
ment houses are rented before the
buildings are well under way.
A lack OF accommodations may COM
pei the annual convention of the Riv-
ers and Harbor Congress- which is
go to another city. A large hotel
which has been it's headquarters, is
now filed with WELL paying guests.