Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-03

Say, WILL 1Orce the DullQlQg lnQuSt
more to the rebuilding of older s.
past major practice of adding new
suburbs Of communities.
IhIder Illustrates Principles.
An exposition of the general prin-
ciples Of this belief was given here this
week by John Ihlder, housing consult
ant of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
> This week. also, similar views were
voiced publicly by Louis Justement,
chairman. of the Housing Committee of
the Washington Chapter of the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects.
If what these and other students of
city planning and housing conditions
foresee comes to pass in the near flu
ture, there would result gradual but
definite reorganization of plans Of the
construction industry.
Most Homes on New Sites.
There has been in the past much re-
placement of out-worn buildings by new,
modern structures at strategic spots in
growing cities, but the most OF the new
construction, particularly as to dwell
tngs, has been on new sites, observers
say.
In the future, hovever, with the ex-
pected gradual leseling off of the ma
tional population to a more or less sta
tionary level, there would come a
greater and greater emphasis upon the
rebuilding of older sections of cities.
This would be in definite contrast to
the prevailing experience in recent
years when the more desirable new
residential developments have been
erected ON sites generally consisting of
virgin acreage lying on the outskirts OF
existing and developed communities.
Mass production of automobiles and
development of other forms of fast pub
lie transportation has stimulated this
method of building new communities OF
homes more end more distant from the
centers Of citie4..
Better Conditions Seen.
II the future brings to pass the
change anticipated by some qualified
students of the matter, it appears pos
sible conditions better for the individ-
ual resident and homo or business prop
eTty owners will result.
Fer instance, 1t is believed possible
that suc-l a change would mean the re-
buildinT OF tie older and obsolete sec
tons OF cities, resulting in more perma-
ncnce in values of the established and
older sections of cities. The rebuilding
of blocks of buildings that had served
a useful period of life, under such a
program, 1t Is argued, would create new
values and instill new popularity In old
sections.
It is, perhaps, difficult for most per-
sons to believe that the time should be
approaching when the population OF the
by leans and bounds as it has in the
pest. The prevailing talk OF civic lead
ers for so long has been that thelr cities
soon would reach the mark Of 100000
population or more. This thought has
been expressed here publicly time and
again. Indeed, the records OF the
growth of the National Capital pointed
in recent years only toward continued
expansion. Year by year the SUBURBS
Of Washington have been extended far-
ther and farther into the adjoining
counties Of Maryland and Virginia.
Businass Areas Extended.
At the same time, however. as city
planners will point OUT, there has been
o trend Of fashionable and the more
modern residence away from the oloer
and more central sections OF Washing
ten.
Business has been extended farther
and farther out along the tranc ar
teries and more and more Of the one
time popular or even fashionable resi-
Dental areas of the National Capltal
have been transformed into other uses.
Onetime fashionable old homes near
the city center have been turned INTO
business or rooming houses, or nave
been razed to make way for new pusl-
ness or apartment house projects.
Predictions by statisticians. nearo
more and more frequently during the
past two or three years, that the rate OF
Increase In the American popuiatlon
was beginning to slow down leo one
rather skeptic individual to turn 70 the
records Of the census.
Growth Slowing Down.
He found that, according to the 1880
census. the population Of the United
States showed. healthy increase dur
ing the preceding 10 years, but that
the growth was at a slower rate py
considerable degree than in earlier Gee.
AIDES. except for the period from lslo
to 1920.
To be more specific:
The increase in population Of the
country during the past census decane
was found to be 1871 per cent. ms
compares with an increase Of LAB per
cent between the years 1910 and l9zo.
However. the comparisons were decided
ly different with earlier years. Between
1900 and 1910 the population increase ease
amounted to 81 per cent; between iSsV
and 1900, DOT; between 1880 and lSSo,
25.5 Der cent; between 1870 and lS8U,
30l per cent; between 1860 and 1870.
22.6 per cent, and between lSo0 ana
1860, 35.6 per cent.
How about the records for the Dis
trict of Columbia? A glance at the