Evening star., 1940-07-08
Civic Leaders
See Problems
In D. {. Growth
Increasing Load
In Wake of Census
Figures Is Emphasized

Pleased with the unexpectedly
large 36.2 per cent growth of Wash
ington in the past decade, as dis
closed. by the 1910 census, respon-
sible officials and civic leaders today
turned to consideration of what
they said may be serious and per-
picking problems in "servicing'
the Capital in connection with the
big national defense expansion.
Business leaders said there was
an encouraging outlook for busi-
ness. From several sources came
prediction. that within the next 10
or Is years the city may reach a
million population.
Washington grew from 1857 in
1880 to 663,153 in 1940 according to
preliminary figures made public
Saturday by census officials The
1910 figure, however, is not final, ac-
cording to Gerald Ryan, assistant
to the director of the census. The
Washington books will be kept open
for some time, he said. Persons
who think they have been missed in
the enumeration are urged to report
to Garnett R. Brown. area manager
for the District, at the census build
ing, First and M streets NE, or
telephone Republic 2146, Branch 43,
and notify Mr.. Brown.
Figures Certain to Increase.
1t is certain, according to Mr..
Ryan, that the figures for WASH
ington, and nearby counties, also
disclosed Saturday, will be increased
before the final tabulation is COM
pleted.
John Russell Young, District Com
missioner, declared:
Washington should be very proud
of its tremendous growth in the
last decade. I am glad to see the
city step up into the front ranks
of the Nations largest cities. That's
where it should be. But we must
realize that our responsibilities as
officials of the municipal government
and as citizens of the National Cap
ital have become greater along with
the rapid growth in the city's popu-
lation"
Predicting that within short ex-
panse of years Washington will have
a population of more than million,
Richmond B. Keech, vice chairman
of the Public Utilities Commission,
said: Its bound to come, and this
means that the Public Utilities Com
mission must keep its eyes and ears
glued to the task of making the
utilities services keep pace with the
expected increases in population.
Our particular function is to see that
the utility services are adequate and
the rates kept at reasonable level
30 as to satisfy those who live here,
as well as to attract others to the
city,"
Collifower Surprised.
James E. Colliflower, president Of
the Washington Board of Trade, de-
clared the count shows a sub
stantially greater number of resi-
dents than we had anticipated"
THE greatest surprise to me, how
ever" he said, "is the remarkable
growth of the adjacent counties,
so that our Washington area now
contains almost million inhabi-
tants." The population figure for
Washington, Alexandria City and
four adjacent counties is 962,742.
Business houses of Washington, !"
continued Mr.. Collif1ower, may we'll
look forward to further increased
activity resulting from certain ex-
pansion of some Federal depart
ments working on national defense
plans. The outlook is most en-
couraging. In 1885 Washington was
the eighth largest retail market in
the United States. No doubt it has
now exceeded the volume of one or
two of the cities Immediately ahead
of it at that time, and we may ex-
pect further expansion
There are, however, many serious
and perpleXing problems which are
bound to arise as our population
becomes greater and denser. We
must all be alive to these attendant
difficulties and continue to CO.
operate closely with District officials
who will be called upon to service
the rapidly growing CITY,"
Randolph Is Pleased.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee said he was
delighted" with the showing made
by Washington in the census De-
claring he had been predicting for
some time that Washington within
the next 10 or Is years would reach
population of million, Mr.. Ran
dolph said the 1910 census figures
would indicate that his prediction
may come true
''It is important" he continued,
"that as Washington grows in
population it should grow in beauty
and become more nearly the great
est national capital in the world.
Nearby Montgomery County re-
vealed a gain of 65 per cent to
reach 81,444; Prince Georges, a
gain of 456 per cent, to reach 87,-
1T: Arlington County, a gain of
113 per cent, to reach $500; Fair
fax County, a gain of 81 per cent,
to reach 40,668, and Alexandria
City, an increase of 40 per cent, to
reach $4,000.