Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-29
The Districts Population.

The new estimate of Washington's
population as of last July just an
nounced, indicates the continued, re-
markable growth of the city since the
decennial census of 1880. The estimate
Of $4,000 indicates an increase of about
$4,000 in a year, almost five times as
great an increase as occurred in any
year between 1920 and 1880. For WASH
ington the estimates are based on a new
method of computing increase, adopted
because of the very unusual conditions
prevailing in the Capital. This method
Is based on such known quantities as
school enrolment the city directory, the
number of Federal workers, etc, while
the old method is followed for the States
Of computing estimates on the basis of
trends established in past counts. WASH
ington. for census purposes. is included
as a State, which explains why the eSti-
mated population of other cities of the
country is not included in the count.
The accuracy of the new estimate may
It doubtless fails to take into account,
for instance, the number of Federal en-
ployes who work in Washington but live
in the suburbs of the adjacent counties
1t may err in other respects which will
not be revealed until the next decennial
enumeration. But the growth of popu-.
lation indicated in the estimates merely
reflects the known increase in the
ton to man the establishments of the
New Deal. On June 80 OF 1888, for in
stance, there were IS, 437 Government
employees in the District. The number
had increased on June 80, 1896, to 117,453
"a total increase of 52Ol6. In the same
period the population of the city is esti-
mated to have increased about 124, 900.
The increase could be attributed almost
entirely to Federal workers and their
families.
While population growth is q healthy
sign and usually discussed with great
enthusiasm in other cities, the very
factors which account for the population
growth here carry with them certain dis
advantages in respect to Washington.
A great number of the emergency work.
ers, for instance, do not become direct
taxpayers-retaining legal residence in
the States-with the result that the Dis
trict's revenues show no increase COM
parable with the increase in population.
A great many of the Federal workers
make their homes in the attractive Sec
lions of nearby counties While the Dis
trlcts municipal functions, such as public
schools, are crowded beyond capacity,
there is no offSetting increase in the
funds available for school maintenance
and expansion. The police department
and traffic department, in fact every
agency of the District government. is
given greater burden without compen-
sating increase in personnel. And in
statistical comparisons to show Wash
ingtons relative burden of taxation the
per capita figures are reduced by a large
population which is counted for the
census estimates, but does not figure on
the assessors or tax collectors rolls.
The population element, therefore, be-
comes another one of the factors that
must be weighed under conditions pc
culiar to Washington. In the fiscal rela-
tons issue, for instance, the local tax
burden cannot be judged by the same
population standards that prevail in the
normal. self-sustaining community.