The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-07
National Capital Trying to Care for 100000 People Over Its Normal
 Population
BROTHERS FLOURISH
 U NDER PROTECTION OF PATRIOTIC PLEA
Peace-Time Portions Are Ho0verized and Prices Quadrupled at the
 Same Time
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

| Washington. January 6.-(Special) Prior to April S. 1917. Washington was delightful place in which to live If properly placarded at the present time. one on approaching It's portals would observe, Abandon hope all ye who enter here"
 For, despite the daily exodus of thou sands of bibulous to Baltimore. Wash ington has more people than It bar gained for The permanent population has increased 5o.ooo in nine months. In addition. daily visitors, in pursuit of rich contracts, round out another 50.00o 100000 INCREASE
 One hundred thousand is an increase In population of 8 Ia per cent. Birming- ham has never grown so radiply. and it is possible that the most ambitious resi- dent of Sheffield or Anniston would hesi- tate so highly to elevate his prospect- i've As a result. neither Birmingham, Sheffield nor Anniston can appreciate just what a difference all these people make. They have transformed Washing ton from quiet, beautiful, unosten- tatious city. into an overcrowded. un- comfortable, inhospitable metropolis
 
 terers from creatures whose pleasure it was to serve into hundred-headed hy- dras querulously demanding your busi- ness and pointedly suggesting that you hasten your step.
 NO RELIEF IN SIGHT
 And there is no relief in sight. The government is as hard pressed for help as France and Englaua for fcnd and munitions A--Bzf scssssss Fra rar M nent4 like the gsat of the Lord. is' goias into the IL = ways and byways in de- termined lort to get labor. The gov- ernment is advertising for typists. not stenographers, and is agreeing to pay them s12oo the year. The government is imploring young girls to aid 1t in filing briefs and manuscripts for eompensa- ton as high as $S5 the month As a re- suit Washington's population continues and will continue to increase in leaps and bounds. If the war lasts two more years, the government will either be forced to construct places of residence, or compel by statute possessors of bed rooms to dispose of surplus floor space.
 PROBLEM IS SERIOUS
 At the present time, the problem of finding places for new population is as serious as finding stenographers. Under government supervision. committees are endeavoring to aid tha new corners, and President Wilson, by a contribution of 5000, has lent encouragement to the scheme. When a young irl reaches Washington, she is escorted to various sections of the city until some other young girl is found with a willingness to share her pallet. The member of the committee in charge of the search then guarantees that the girl will pay her board for at least month, and departs to locate" another stranger.
 LIFE IS BURDENSOME
 Because of the new conditions. life is burdensome The street cars are so crowded that no one rides who can walk The traffic companies have hired men known as "packers.' They stand at transfer points and push men and women and bundles into street cars. They often collect fares on the outside, and pass tickets and transfers through front windows to motormen who, at tho opportune moments, remit to conductors
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