Existing comment:
Washington Growing Into Its Potential:
The Civil War brought unparalleled prosperity to Washington. For the first time hotels were full even when Congress was not in session> The volume of business exceeded all previous records, and so did the level of employment. In 1860, the number of government employees was 1,500; by 1865 it had increased to 7,000. Government contractors, who came to town with large capital to invest, soon became rich from the war. Every house was occupied, and the price of room and board increased 150% between 1860 and 1866, creating wealth for landlords. Construction boomed. New warehouses and stables sprang from many vacant lots in the city to cater to the needs of the war effort.
Despite the extensive suffering of the many wounded who where [sic] brought into the city for treatment and the plight of the African American refugees who lived in appalling conditions, Washington and many of its new residents benefited economically from the Civil War. |