Evening star., 1933-06-25

has in the past half century, 1t VIII be
about three times as large as 1t is now,
and the chances are that it will be crowd
ed to the wall, and nearly all the nearby
beautiful villa sites will be occupied by apart
ment buildings rows of block houses. In
1880 there were in the District of Columbia
177624 persons, of whom 59402 were colored
or about one-third of the total. Today the
Colored population is about one-1ourth.
There is a marvel1us difference between the
Washington of SO years ago and now. just as
there will be an astounding difference. no doubt,
between the present city and what we may
expect it to be in the future. People frequently
complain that all the bargains in real estate are
gone and this is probably largely true so far as
city property is concerned. but if home seekers
are willing to pioneer and go into the Tar
suburbs, just as their parents in many cases
did before them. when they have grown old
they at least have a home to call their
own and from which they cannot be elected
Indeed, there is not an old-timer in the city
but who will relate when he might have bought
property few decades ago that today, in his
old age, would be of sufficient value to make
him financially comfortable.
Of course so far as the District of Colum-
bia is concerned. such opportunities will cease
when the 10-mile square is built up; but then,
Maryland and Virginia will quite likely have
bargains for sale. just as they have now But
the distance from the center of the city to
the suburban line is gradually being showed
eled although the airpane will then. quite
likely be the sole method of travel, unless it
shall give way to some undeveloped way Of
just catapulting us through the air
To many this may seem ridiculous: but what
would have seemed more far-fetched to us so
years ago than to be told that in few years
it would be possible for one to talk around the
world with himself? And yet know
this can be done, and we think nothing of it.
Witchcraft then had about died out. except
with some poor, ignorant people, and yet the
best of us. had the radio been suddenly sprung
upon us at that time. would have looked upon
the proceeding canny and spooky. The
stupendous development. improvement and
progress throughout the world during the past
half century is almost unbelievable, and Wash
ington has enjoyed its share Of course the
writer does not include in the progress made
the unjustifiable political inequality. discrim-
ination and handicap We suffer But other
wise the advancement has been all that might
have been expected.
The young person whose personal knowledge
Of Washington dates back only for few dec
AIDES scarcely realize the extent to which the
city has really developed For instance to
him Hams Point and Potomac Park mean moth
ing, except that the park is pleasant place
to visit in the Summer. perhaps to play nice
game of golf, to see the Army boys engage in
pony polo. and in the Spring to view the
world famous japanese cherry blossoms But
10 thoSe VINO nave seen washington grow,
glance at this section of the city means more
than what We see today. for 1t carries them
back to the days of the slashes and marshes
to reed birds and ducks to mosquitoes and,
naturally. to chills and fevers and quinine.
But things have all changed since then.
Outside the sea wall. upon occasions the can
vasback duck and ortolan in great numbers
rest unmolested upon the water, while the reed
bird has found other feeding places, and the
Old double-barreled shotgun has gone to decay
or is hid away in the attic reminder of
the past
Indeed. wonderful strides have been made
here during the last half century. for not only
have beautiful parks been developed where
once lurked illness and disease. but even meth
Ods Of living and travel and everything else
it seems have given way to a newer, a more
comfortable and a greater Washington. Many
things have contributed toward making it the