Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-22
Vast Growth Seen
In Washington Area
Economist Says
Cars to Double
In rs Years

~ - tS0tS
The number of motor vehicles
in the Washington Metropolitan
Area will more than double in
the next rs years,a Washington
economist predicted today.
Jerome P. Pickard. research
director of the Washington
Board Of Trades Economic De-
Ivelopment Committee, said he
lexpects the number of vehicles
to hit LIS million in 1880. The
present number is about 600, 900.
l Mr.. Pickard, speaking at
American University to an orien-
Itation conference for volunteers
in the Community Chests and
Councils of the area. surveyed
Washington's future in several
fields
! He said the Metropolitan Area
population will reach "a million
by 1880. OF this number. he
, said. about % per cent will be
colored. He said this percent
age has remained constant since
1890.
J In the District alone, the Ne
igro-to-white ratio will continue
tits STEADY climb, Mr.. Pickard
predicted, The percentage Of
Negroes in the District popula-
'Ition was % per cent in 1910, 35
per cent in 1850, AS per cent in
1856 and will climb to SIS per
cent by 1880, he said.
Major Developments
Basing his predictions on
what he called current trends.
Mr.. Pickard also outlined these
other Developments by 1880:
l /. District population will in
GREASE only IL per cent. to 940.-
600, while suburban population
will increase 100 per cent. to
l2.460, 900.
/ 2 Median family income for
the whole area will rise to $1,000
Tin 1855 buying power dollars"
/ 8. Motor vehicles may in
creases from 100000 to is mil
lion.
4 4. Employment in the area will
Irise 80 per cent. to l,45O. 900.
Federal employment will not in
icrease greatly. but industrializa-
ttion. including technical and re-
search industries, will rise to
perhaps so per cent Of their
potential level here.
S. Children under 10, who ac-
counted for 81 per cent of the
area population in 1850 and "a
per cent in 1856. win reach a
peak of 38 per cent in 1865,
then taper of to So per cent in
1880. Persons aged SIS or over
will rise from 5 per cent to 7 per
cent of the area population.
Need DiversificatiOn
Mr.. Pickard said the Board of
Trade has program to diver
lsify the area economy and render
it less dependent upon Govern
ment employment" He said the
five types of new activity which
offer the best prospects for
growth are:
/. National organization head
quarters or branch offices.
| 2. National or regional Offices
! of business firms.
}, 3. Research and development
groups.
4. Wholesale and distribution
activities.
i S. Manufacturing.
! Among the community devel-
Iopments which will be required
by this mushrooming of the
metropolitan Area, DR.. Pickard
said, are Stun rehabilitation,
traffic improvements and port
development.
"a seaport has not been de-
yeloped here DR.. Pickard said,
I"despite the recent use of Wash
Iington as a cruise port and the
Increased activity of Alexandria
as a commercial port. Where
else is there such a metropolis
of nearly 2 million persons right
on tidewater-without port?"
Solve Traffic Problems
\ Traffic Improvements, he said,
need to be solved before we are
under a tidal wave Of vehicles"
He suggested that perhaps the
East Mall development, pro-
ljected in long-range city plans.
would kill two birds with one
stone--upgrading the old east
side of the city and utilizing the
excellent new traffic arteries in
the eastern and northeastern
sections of the cities"
The overdevelopment Of the
northwest section as a residence
area for workers employed
downtown makes this eastern
section especially suitable for
the next stage Of development,
Mr.. Pickard said.
| Mr.. Pickard spoke at the
opening session of the all-day
conference. The Community
Chests and Councils Of the Ma
tional Capital Area are United
Givers Fund agencies.
The volunteers attending the
sessions heard talks on budget
ing, admission of agencies to
chests and councils, policy max
ling for social welfare, improving
/ agency services and other as
Ipects Of community work.
DR.. Hurst r. Anderson. presi-
dent Of American University.
was TO speak at the concluding
session. Chairman OF the con-
ference was Arrniger L. Jagoe,
| 1r., vice president Of United
Community Services, the Dis
trict's chest and council.