Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-28
DISTRICT TO SPEND
S7O,OlO,0]D IN 1880
Additions, improvements and
Pay Raises Are Estimated
at C. of C. Conference.

Official Washington and private en-
terprise in the Capital City will spenC
approximately S70,000,0 900 during 1885,
in additions, Improvements and Salary
increases, it was estimated last nigh
at a business conference called by the
Washington Chamber of Commerce Il
present a crosS-Section of the indus
trial and financial life of the District
and of the city's prospects during the
ensuing year.
Influenced by this tremendous ex-
penditure, business is expected by its
local leaders, many of whom assembled
in the Mayhower Hotel for the confer
ence last night, to enjoy a period OF
increased prosperity and expansion, de-
sp>te the recent stock market slump.
The picture presented by Govern
ment officials and representatives of
the city's leading institutions and in
dustrieS was optimistic in the extreme,
fulfilling the avowed purpose of the
conference.-the promote confidence, I'M
Outstanding and cooperation as the
basis for the economic structure Of
Washington.
100 Millions Real Expectation.
President Charles w. Darr of the
chamber, in announcing the $40, 600, 900
estimate for 1890, explained it was an
approximation arrived at as result
of correspondence with officials and
business executives relative to the con-
ference. Added to this figure, he said,
are the amounts which will be spent
by the almost innumerable smaller con-
Germs, bringing the probable total up
to 10000, 900 for the year.
The idea behind the conference
that of creating sentiment of pros
perity as a means for attaining pros
perity-was the subject of the principal
address, which was delivered by Merle
Thorpe, ediotr of the Nations Bust
ness, official publication of the Cham
Der of Commerce of the United States
Thorpe characterized the embodiment
of this idea in business conferences
throughout the country, following upon
the national meeting called by PreSi-
dent Hoover, as "a great experiment
which, if successful, will change the
whole course of economic history, and
Will relegaAe the cycle of business de-
clines to the category of the dodo."
Sentiment or public opinion, he de-
clared, cannot be overemphasized in
modern business. In this connection
he called Washington a city of the
blind" and said her citizens were not
availing themselves of unparalleled OPP
DOIIui1lIkSS.
business asset, he asserted, and the day
of the cold blooded, dry-as-dust" bust
ness man is past. He said, sentiment
is written on every store of progress"
and pointed out the possibilities of Gre
ating a sentiment here based on WASH
ington's rich traditions and history.
The largest portion of the capital
expenditures to be made during 1880
as outlined at the conference will come
from the United States Treasury, with
large sums appropriated in connection
with the Government building program
and the development that comes under
tect, David Lynn.
Many ID. c. Improvements Due.
Lynn said THAI $13,284,S06.45 will be
spent during the remainder of the pres
ent fiscal year and the next fiscal year.
1t will be distributed to pay the ex-
penses for the acquisition of land for,
and the beginning of work on, the new
United States Supreme Court Building;
the enlargement and development of
the Capitol Grounds, which will ex-
tend to Union Station: improvement
of the Botanic Gardens; completion
of the Senate ONCE Building and con-
struction of an addition to the Library
Of Congress-
Other expenditures to be made by the
Government were summarized in a state
ment of the financial situation here by
Robert N. Harper, president Of the Dis
trict National Bank. His message was
delivered by Joshua Evans, jr., execu-
tive vice president of the institution,
in the absence of Mr.. Harper.
The statement reads, in part: 1.-THE
City of Washington has made great
f1rOOrecc tho. abandonment - fror.
cial service to business; our banks have
noticeably increased their assets; they
are rendering a service greater in extent
and more nearly adapted to actual bust
ness needs, and they enter upon the
year 1880 in better position than ever
before to perform their functions with
maximum efficiency.
Four Stability Factors.
-Four major factors have contributed
to Washington's splendid financial posi-
ton. On the Governmental side we
have the Federal building program and
the elimination of the salary scale re-
vision which resulted from the CLASH
fcation act of 1928. Private business
has been responsible for the remarkable
real estate and building activity, which
has added millions to the value of local
property, and for Washington's splendid
progress in the development Of light
manufacturing industries of suitable
type.
Under present legislation the Treas
ury Department should spend some
where near $30.000000 In 1880, which
total would be increased to nearly $40,-
100000 by the enactment Of the Elliott
bill. This total does not include the
sums to be spent by the architect of the
Capital and the District Commissioners.
The Government pay roll adjust
mentS resulting from the building up
CT scientific Government employment
system have corrected many existing in
CAPABILITIES and have materially increased
the spending power of Government en-
ployes in the District. 1t is estimated
that the total increase in the Govern
ment pay roll for the calendar year 1880
over 1929, will be S4,250,00O. This fig
ure includes no provision for the con-
templated Army and Navy and other
pay increases now long overdue"
For the District, Commissioner Proc
tor L. Dougherty predicted that the ex-
penditure in construction would total
3d. 900, exceeding the 1929 figure by
Sl,74S,000. A large portion Of this sum
will be spent in the building of two in
Generators and in sewer work.
Utilities Prospects Told.
Prospects for the year of Washing
tons public utilities were related BY
Hanse Hamilton, general manager Of
the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone
Co; c. Melvin Sharpe of the Potomac
Electric Power Co. and Washington
Railway and Electric Co.; j. Edward
Heberle of the Capital Traction Co.,
and George Whitwell, secretary of the
Washington Gas Light Co.
Hamilton said that the telephone
company will install S3,500.000 of i'm
provements during 1880, and will spend
S22,000,000 in improvement within the
next five years He said that the 1884,
600 telephones now In service in Wash
ington will be increased by 5000 before
the &c 0,Yf