The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-11
BANKERS VISION
GROWING
CITY
District Financial Leaders
Predict 1 ,ooo, 900 PopuIa-
ton in Ten Years
By RICHARD HATTON.

Hinder normal conditions the fu-
tSre of washington win be one OF
continued growth and business eA-
pansion, according to some OF tne
leading financiers OF the CITY VINO
expressed their views on the SUD
ject today. ,...
of a community views conditions
more analytically than do bankers
and Others concerned with finances.
No class of men have more intimate
knowledge as to causes and effects
and there is no profession more
closely concerned with city building
and with city growth In population
and resources than Is the banking
nrofession. The views OF those in 3
position. through knowledge ana
studv- TO express themselves regard
ing possibilities and probabilities
are. therefore, worthy or serious
consideration.
victor B. Deyber, president OF the
Second National Bank and also
president Of the District OF Columbia
Bankers Association, in speaking OF
the immediate future or the CITY,
said today: "I foresee nothing alb.
normal in the future growth Of
Washington, but, beyond question:
the city will continue its present
healthy expansion and will develop
; more rapidly than the average
American community by reason OF
the special conditions which obtain
here"
Expects Big Yearly Increase.
George o. Watson, president or
The Liberty National Bank: was
positive In stating his belief In the
steady expansion of the city. He
said; 81 expect to see Washington
increase in population steadily and
normally at something like $4,000
a year. That means practically
doubling the population in ten
years Throughout the whole coun'
try there is a very general senu'
ment developing which faVors
washington as a home city outside
of the Government activities. This
means a great and steady CONNER
cial and financial growth. l ex
pect to see 100000 people in the
District of Columbia In 1885. The
proposed Government building pro.
gram, alone, IL carried out, would
increase the population OF WASH
ington by possibly $4,000 year De
yond the normal increase"
John B. Larner, president OF the
pany. whose intimate knowledge OF
conditions which have effected the
development of the city in the past
and which are working actively az
an influence upon the future rem.
ders his opinion of especial value
as a conservative and well con.
} sidered view, said: Increasing gov
eminent business eventually viii re.
suit in the bringing of more people
to Washington for, like every other
weIl-conducted business, the busi-
ness CT the Government must ex'
pand. Also, this city is becoming
a great educational. scientific and
artistic center, and this must. in.
evitably. result in a larger pOpula-
Ation of a desirable kind. expect
20 see Washington continue a
healthy. normal growth"
Worlds Most Beautiful City.
Vice President C. II. Pope, of the
Munsey Trust Company, views ths
immediate future with optimism
He declared today that with the
great development Of new hocc
properties in Washington AMI the
numerous facilities afforded for the
housing Of large conventions oui
city is bound to grow faster in Th'
next ten years than ever before, tC
say nothing Of the normal growth
which accrues from other sources
The nations capital has an unusual
attraction for scientific men, for
artists and professional men, ant
Z II is destined to be the most beautl
ful city in the world, if this has not
!. proven already TO be the fact
j John r. Waller. president of the
International Bank, sees Washing
ton as the Heart of America
1T is a matter of common knowi
edge" he said today. that no other
city rivals Washington as nationol
and international headquarters fol
patriotic. commercial. scientific and
fraternal organizations. Over two
hundred Of these organizations al
ready have their headquarters here.
It is, also, the headquarters OF ne
Federal Reserve and National Bank
ing System. which makes it pre- emf
nent in banking circles.
LAS a gateway to the South,
Washington is in an ideal position
to profit from the tremendous pros-
perity throughout the Southern
States. 1t is the center of one of
the most productive agricultural Sec
tons of the country, and. besides
the natural advantages of its rail
way and deep water connections, has
almost within the limits of the Dis.
trict OF Columbia, at the Great Falls
Dof the Potomac, one of the greatest
undeveloped water-power sites in
America. The new Washington IS
headed FOR the million mark"
Ideal Home City.
Thomas p. Hickman. vice presi.
dent OF the Franklin National Bank,
Is another financial leader who
visions a constantly, although nor.
mally, growing city within the
shadow Of the dome of the Capitol
Mr.. Hickman said today: 1.-THE
present steady and normal increase
in the population and in the bust
ness activity of Washington will
under existing conditions, continue
without serious setbacks. More
and more people throughout the
country are looking toward Wash
ington as an ideal home city. Ir
addition to this class, there will be
an increasing number Of govern
mental activities carried on here
and the normal increase in business
will be assured through the genera
expansion of the population"