The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-08-14
transportation Shows
City's Growth in
Recent Years
Veteran Railroad Official Pre-
diets Greater Tourist
! Travel for Future
By RICHARD HATTON

Prominent Washington bankers
i" businessmen and realtors have from
time to time expressed their views
Tuture possibilities of the city from
business standpoint. Without ex
caption these opinions have been
OF an optimistic nature and have
Deem based upon a study of I'm
DERIVING conditions and influences
the solid nature of which is indiS.
putable. OF equal importance with
the Judgment of these leaders OF
business life are the opinions of
those who by the nature of their
work contact with the great con-
Meeting links between Washington
and the rest Of the country.
Possibly there is no better quail
lied authority upon Washington 9
past, present and future as indt-
Gated by the development and the
: plans Of great transportation or
carnations, which play such an i'm.
portant part in the upbuilding OF
the community, than George w.
Fierbuchen, general passenger
agent here of the Seaboard Air
Line. Mr.. Vierbuchen's right 10
speak with authority comes eronl
the fact that he was born and
brought up In Washington anil
that he has been, for over Is
years, connected with a railroad or
kanization which has contributed
much to the advancement, not .ly
Of the Capital City, bit to the en-
tire southern territory in which 1t
operates.
Indicating the growth Of the
transportation business in and out
bf Washington, Mr.. Vierbuchen said
today that when he entered the
! employ of the Seaboard the office
NNree here consisted Of one man.
Now the passenger department
alone requires the services OF IL
Inen in the na.n office on Four
teenth Street. Mr.. Vierbuchen said
81 have seen Washington grow
from not much more than quiet
southern village to one Of the great.
est cities in the country and de.
Feiop from merely the Capital OF
the United States to the capital OF
the world It is obvious that the
same influences which have been at
work for the past quarter Of a cen.
bury Will continue to exert their
expanding pressure upon the COM
munity and T look for continued
gradual increase in business activ.
lty here. along with the increase IN
population"
"Travel," continued Mr.. ,Vier
buchen, Ito and from and through
Washington has increased to such
an extent that the city Is no longer
looked upon as merely an objective
Tor winter tourists. We now have
d great influx Of summer tourists
as well as q continuous stream of
between-season travellers. The ire
mendous development now going on
throughout the South is, Of course,
one Of the main factors in augment
ing travel through the city.
"a quarter Of a million travellers
Ass through Washington during
the winter season alone. Most OF
these spend from one day to a
week in the city and they unques-
tionably contribute to our local
prosperity. This class of travel will
increase In the future as railroad
facilities and railroad advertising
exert their influence upon the
travelling public and Washington is
already looked upon as a regular
sstop-ever' point. The Seaboard is
anticipating as well as aiding the
Increased travel through Washing.
ton and we are now preparing to
Increase our train service and
equipment in order to attract tour
ist travel here as well as to serve
the people of the Capital.
'"The present plans for the beau
tification of the CITY," continued
Mr.. yierbuchen, "are logical de-
VeIopment of the original city plan
and, in addition, are an advantag-
eous advertising asset.
I'VE have possibly a better in
sight into the mind of the average
tourist than is given to the general
public. We find that a great many
who come here first as mere sight
eeers return again to spend a longer
time amid the beautiful surround
jngs. Also, many who come first as
tourists return later to become per-
manent residents. Certainly the
railroads have done and are still
doing their share in the upbuilding
Of Washington.
There is no more enthusiastic be.
lever in the future OF Washington
than Mr.. Vierbuchen and consider
ing his long association with the
Seaboard and his intimate knowl
residence here he should speak with
wisdom. He Is a member of the
National Press Club and the Cos
mopolitan Club. is a 32d degree
Mason, an Odd Fellow and a
Shriner.
President Robert ". Harper, Of
the District National Bank, will not
permit any banker to outstrip him
in the field of sport. No sooner
had word been received that Presi-
dent William D. Hoover, of the Ma.
tional Savings and Trust Company,
had made hole in one on the Hot
Springs golf course than word came
from Col. Harper's country home at
Observation-Disclosures