The Washington herald., 1921-01-30
Sees Washington
City of Million
Possibilities of Capital
As Great Seat of
American Culture

a man whose Judgment is sound on many
things recently offered as his opinion these
words: Il believe Washington viii be
city Of 100000 people in ten years"
And that without any urging from a
Million Population Club" such as some
ambitious American cities bosstl
He cited these reasons for his state
aent: We follow, in general, the ways of
European capitals. The revered World
Almanac shows that London, Paris, Berlin.
Rome, Pekin, all capitals, are all large cit
les. And in these centers., the chief groups
Of "intellectusls." artists, musicians, phi
loSophers,. scientists, are gathered. -
1t is somewhat difficult for an American
to imagine an American city of a million
without picturing large shipping docks, big
industrial plants snd a great trading center.
Yet it is almost as hard for Washington
isns to imagine this city developing in
such fashion.
We can fancy big shipbuiIding plant,
perh1ps, just outside the District line, in
Maryland or Virginia We can imagine an
industrial section growing up in the north
east along the railway tracks. And we
have already begun to dream Of George
town reopened as port, welcoming great
ships bearing silks from the Samsrkznd Ct
will be long time, P A. o. pessmisti-
csDy puts in, before we hear the rustic OF
those) or spices from the Orient, and Great
Lakes vessels bearing wheat direct from
the ports OF Lake Superior.
But it is much easier for US to imagine
Washington as the seat Of American cul-
ture. New. York, OF course, surpzsses US in
this respect now. And because it does.
America is not like other great nations
which have in their capitals their CHIEF
cities
In South -AWeriea Rio de Isneiro and
Buenos Aires, the principal cities of the
two. principal republics are both capitals
They perhaps, do not.f have the
building restrictions that are placed upon
the District Of Columbia A few weeks
ago there appeared in 'thescoiumns -of The
Herald an article on the proposed new
capital OF Australis-which tie Australians
hope to make the model seat Of govern
ment, city planned and built with the
greatest care, srchitecturslly perfect and
free from such blemisheS as industrial
plants invariably make.
II they carry through their plan, Wash
i1gton will have one really formidable rival
for the title, "The most beautiful city"
1t is interesting to speculate upon the
possibility of our growth. We think we
are growing in the most desirable fashion.
Gradually the civic eye-sores are diszp-
pearing and being replaced by things Of
beauty. We believe we are more discrim-
mating to the sort of sculpture we per-
NIT to sdorn our numerous little park
ways. In the newer government structures,
better architectural taste is manifest.
We feel that we are doing very nicely
We want to grow, OF course. We hope
that eventually Washington will offer more
to all America, IN the way of culture than
any other city. And that it wiil draw 10
it the Of Americas citizenry
But we know this: If Washington
IS to grow to such size, it must be because
OF what might be called aesthetic" res-
sons, rather than the opportunities the
city-thst is, the District Of Columbia-of-
fers for the development OF. business and
industry within its borders
This does not necessarily mean that our
government will keep on piling up bureaus
upon bureaus, eularging the departmental
population of Washington 1t means rather
that the government departments that are
here will draw to Washington those most
useful of citizens-scientists, research work
ers, engineers, artists and musicians-be-
cause they can perform their work here
better than in any other American city.
B. P. G.