Evening star., 1928-02-19
MARKED INCREASE
IN CARS FORECAST
Greater Population Held Ger.
tain to Bring Bigger De.
mand for Autos.
By Z. f. DUFFY.

By the year 1000 the population Of
the United States. If the present rate
of increase is continued. will be double
the 1920 figure, or 10000 900 people.
BY 1850. only % years from now. l45.-
900 900 people will inhab!t this country.
Where will these people live? Will
the great cities OF today become even
larger? Can New York City. Chicago,
Detroit. Philadelphia. and other large
centers build outward and upward. TO
contain even more thickly massed
populations? Or will the smaller COM
munities and the country absorb them?
The question arises also as to what
will become OF the automobile, Small
cities and towns. as well as large. are
already writhing In the tolls OF trafilc
congestion. What will be the condition
in the city of the future, when perhaps
the aim OF automobile manufacturers
will be realized with every third person
running a car? Seventy million Of
them are anticipated for the year 1000.
Transportation Figures.
Population increase Is inevitable
nitely affects the rate Of increase. Be-
fore the coming OF the steam engine
bringing with II rapid travel. population
growth was slow AS soon as the great
steam liners began To plough the sea
and Iron Horses" the prairies, people
who had been confined TO. congested
communities packed Up the "old kit
bag and lit out for sreener pastures
where freedom and possession Of more
Of the worlds goods induced greater
parenthood.
When steam became OF widespread
Use In about $780, the population OF the
world was just half what IL is today.
Japan has doubled It's population in so
years With improved sanitary condi-
tions and medical science. the United
States bids fair 10 grow substantially.
But where this growth will lead. to or
from the city. Is food for speculation.
The recently published report of the
Chicago Regional Planning Commission
reveals that suburban communities
are gaining citizens more rapidly than
Chicago proper. This indicates ten
dency 10 avoid the crowded large city
with It's skyScraping ONCE structures
and towering apartment buildings.
Suburban Growth Indorsed.
more people and all the problems they
may bring with them. II may be good
business for the larger cities 70 stimu-
late suburban growth rather than
growth inside the metropolis Even
now parks. swimming pools, lake fronts
and other municipal outdoor recrca-
t!onaI facilities are fully occupied. SUM-
light and fresh air allotments are al
ready Hibcivided into niggardly pieces.
By spreading It's population over large
areas. even though this tends to de-
centralize business city planners hold
that the city will profit through hap
pier. healthier and more productive
Citizenry.
Small cities too. should cast a
weather eye To the future. Perhaps the
population trend VIII be toward the
villages and towns OF today making
them equal In size 10 some OF the pres
eiIt large communities.
Auto Important Factor.
With more people. more automobiles
/ and more everything else. staring an
expectant world IN the face. II Is man
datnry that plans be made To forestall
Op-heavinesh. The automobile. the
zeal proaenit0r Of this twentieth CEN
| iury prosperity and progrcssivenehs.
viii be The most important factor In
distributing any future population
increages
II In not human trait ~ worry over
the future. especially the future of
other people. Fortunately. IN providing
permanent and substantial facilities for
present use, the future Will be bene =
f1ted Communities now engaged IN
| widening streets. building better high
way outlets 10 the country, and coming
city property for logical and sensible
growth, not only viii make more things
comfortable tor themselves, but the
generations Just ahead viii have less
| " worry about