Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07

w WASHINGTON Is stepping on
n the gas" from a population
| NV viewpoint. Despite the fact
| that Uncle Sam has not
added any great number OF
| Government employees to his Wasnlng-
followed the World Var, the popula-
ton of the National Capital, SNOWFALL
ike. has been increasing at the
estimated rate of $4,000 year. The
cause for this healthy growth of the
| District of Columbia is attributed to
several factors by civic leaders and
others.
in the city.
The postwar advance in representa-
tives of trade associations that bring
great numbers Of people here.
The absence Of strictly local In
| heritance tax.
The reflection in Washington Of the
added importance of the United States
in world affairs.
The advent Of wealthy persons, at
tracted by 1.-The Paris OF the New
World" as desirable residential city.
The increased importance OF WASH
| ington as a social center.
The natural, normal increase Of a
growing community.
Driving Forces Complex.
With these factors, gathered from
various sources, one is afforded pic
| ture of the complex forces that are
driving Washington ahead. The Bureau
| of the Census of the Department of
| Commerce which is now busily engaged
| in preparing to take the offlcial census
| of 1880 informs the information seeker
| that the 1920 census figure for the
| - w. txs {1
Since that year, according to the
bureaus estimates, the city's popula-
| ton growth has been squirting forward
| at the estimated rate of some $4,000 q
with the 1880 census in the ofiing,
the Department of Commerce has
omitted its customary July ! estimate
for the population figure Of Washing
ton and other metropolitan centers.
Oficials consider 1t too risky to venture
sn estimate at this time 1t might be
| too far out of the way Of the ofhcial
| 1880 census figure.
The estimated population of Wash
| ington as of July / this year should be
| in the vicinity of $4,000, based on
previous estimates of the Department
of Commerce.
OF course. the population of the sur
rounding territory is growing at an ap-
| preciable rate, too, as montgomery ana
Prince Georges Counties in Maryland
and Arlington and Fairfax Counties In
Virginia are expanding to care for the
overflow population Of Washington.
What of the future? While the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission has never announced for
publication study of future Washing
! ton growth, beyond stating that If the
present coming areas continue In effect
! and are built up at the same rate as
| they have been, "the ultimate popula-
ton of Washington and "a miles from
| the Capital is 4,0o0,0 00," the commits
! sion has studied the suburban popula-
ton development. The commission has
| declined to set time when the
| 1000, 600 population of Greater Wash
ington will arrive, pleading that the
information might be misconstrued.
Outlying Areas.
The commission has said, regarding
the suburban population in 1850. that
| the likeliest areas for the growth OF
urban communities outside the District
limits cover approximately 40 square
miles. Concerning these areas, the
commission has said: They lie within
q district measuring 400 square miles,
which in 1920 had . population Of
| 81, 1884.
| I'm 1920 the most thickly settled Of