Evening star., 1945-04-16
Population Drop
OF 12Pct. Seen
HereAfterWa
Trade Boord Report
Predicts Gain
Five Years Later


estimated today that the Capital
faces loss of about II per cent Of
its present population when the war
is over. But whatever losses are in
CURED, the board predicted, would
be regained by the end of the fifth
postwar year.
These forecasts were based on
results of a survey made for the
trade body by Opinion Research
Corp, which questioned $500 per-
sons in all sections and walks of life
in Washington, 400 in Alexandria,
and 400 in each of the nearby
counties.
The survey was made for the
Postwar Planning Committee of the
Board of Trade.
The information gained by the
survey, it was announced, is expect
ed to play an important part in the
perfection of plans of the board to
provide a job for every returning
veteran, every war worker and every
other worker in this section who
desires employment. Further reports
based on the survey sampling will
be made public later by the COM
mittee.
$4,000 May Leave.
The IL per cent expected to move
away at the conclusion of their war
work, said the board statement dis
closing results of the survey, do
not indicate that percentage of loss
in total population, because the
survey does not take into account
the number returning from the mill
tary services nor those who may
move to the Capital after the war.
Neither does it consider how many
who have left the Capital to work
in other places may come back to
their old homes"
The study indicated that as many
as $4,000 persons may move away.
OF these. IA per cent live outside
the city limits and Al per cent are
found among those who have moved
into the Capital since the war
began.
OF those residing in the Washing
ton area at the time the war broke
out, "a per cent intend to stay, 4
per cent will move away and per
cent have not made up their minds.
Twelve per cent of the newcomers
also have not decided on their
future plans.
Home Owners to Stay.
Breaking the Figures down into
various categories, the research ex-
perts find that 95 per cent Of those
who own homes will stay here,
while IT per cent Of the renters
will do likewise. Among the col
ored population, 81 per cent intend
to make Washington their perma-
nent home, while 81 per cent Of the
white people plan to remain.
OF the families of four or more
persons, SO per cent will continue
in while of those families Of less
than four. 19 per cent intend to
move or have not made up their
minds.
The greatest exodus on a percent
age basis will be among the fami-
lies Of the "off post military per-
sonnel, of whom only IS per cent
plan to live here. Those privately
employed are most determined to
stay. OF these, 81 per cent expect
to remain here while 86 per cent
of the Government employees have
the same intention.
Gain After Five Years.
Estimates made by the Postwar
Planning Committee, which is work.
ing in conjunction with the Com
mittee for Economic Development,
indicate that at the end of the
second postwar year, the popula-
ton of the Washington area might
reach a minimum of 100000 under
favorable conditions, loss of 50,-
600 from the figure as of January
l, 1914. BY the end of the fifth
year, it is predicted that the pop
ulaiion will have grown to at least
1880, 900. gain Of 10000 over the
January l, 1914, figure.
Other long-range views such as
those of DR.. Phillip M. Hauser of
the Bureau of Census, contemplate
an increase in population here.