DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA l8l 



So the action of government, allied to that of public-spirited 

 men, has made Washington what it is. The Federal Govern- 

 ment prevented its development for three-quarters of a century, 

 but its concentrated influence in the last quarter of a century has 

 been of immense value in the District's economic development. 



Another factor exists here which makes the economic condi- 

 tions of Washington unique as compared with those of other 

 municipalities. These influences are varied in their effect. 

 There are employed under the Federal Government in the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia, in round numbers 20,000 persons, to whom 

 is paid more than $23,000,000, or an average of a little over 

 $1100 per capita.' These 20,000 persons represent, with 

 themselves, 80,000 of the population. The industry of govern- 

 ment, therefore, is at the basis of our economic conditions and 

 our social well-being. The expenditure of this vast sum an- 

 nually preserves the commercial stability of the city. Industrial 

 depressions, except in their moral effect, do not seriously cripple 

 the business affairs of Washington. The body of citizens to 

 whom this large sum is paid is safely the most intelligent group 

 of employees that can be found in the United States. So large 

 a group, too, representing intelligent men and women, reflects 

 the highest civilization and insists upon the best moral and intel- 

 lectual conditions. So the churches of Washington flourish, 

 and its schools rank with the first in the land. 



It is a reading public that the government supports and I be- 

 lieve that the service this group renders is as efficient and in- 

 telligent as is rendered by any class of people ; in fact, the 

 integrity of the government itself depends upon the efficiency 

 and honest discharge of the duties of the great mass of govern- 

 ment employees. They are very largely property owners and 

 hence interested in the social welfare as well as the economic 

 development of the District. They have had their influence, 

 and no slight one at that, in securing from Congress a recogni- 

 tion of its duties towards the whole body of citizens here. It is 

 they in large degree that made Washington attractive. They 

 are public-spirited and interested not in a temporary way but 

 permanently. 



' Omitting members of Congress, the per capita compensation is a little over 

 |tooo. 



