Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1919 — CITY HAYING RAPID GROWTH [ARTICLE]

CITY HAYING RAPID GROWTH

Norfolk Bids Fair to Break all Records at Her Present Rate of Progress. There Is not a city In this country, perhaps none In the world, that Is growing at a more rapid rate than Norfolk,” remarked G. W. Sizer, manager of one of the leading hotels of that city, at the Raleigh, the Washington Post states. “The last census gave the population of Norfolk at less than 70,000. Today it is estimated that Norfolk is a city of 140,000, or more than double the size it was In 1910. Washington prides Itself on the tremendous growth—attained la- the last two or three years, I take considerable pride in the growth of Washington, for I lived here many years, but the proportionate increase In the population of the national capital cannot compare with that of Norfolk. Of course, both cities are helped by war business. Washington, I presume, is the busiest City In the world, but Norfolk Is almost next. “Hampton Roads Is filled with ships. Battleships are passing in and out every hour, and soldiers and sailors are filling the streets, hotels and. residences of Norfolk. Only recently 1 saw some SUKX) soldiers from New Zealand parading through the streets of Norfolk. Many, of them were not young. New Zealand already has sent close to 150,000 men to the front in France, and Belgium, out of a population of 1,500.000, and is stin sending men, which should be an object lesson to us. 0 “Business is booming In Norfolk as never, before. The hotela are filled to

overflowing Just as they are in Washington. New business blocks are going up and the residence sections of the city are being extended far Into the outlying districts. I venture to say that in another decade Norfolk will come close to being the leading city in the Old Dominion, both in population and importance."