1939: Maryland

Area and Population.

First settled in 1634, Maryland was in 1776 the thirteenth original state. With an area of 12,327 sq. mi. (including 2,368 sq. mi. of water), it ranks 41st in size among the states. In population it ranks 28th, numbering 1,631,526 according to the census of 1930; 1,679,000 on July 1, 1937, according to the latest Federal estimate. Of the 1930 population, whites numbered 1,354,170; Negroes, 276,379; other races, 977. The native-born were 1,535,196; foreign-born, 96,330.

The largest cities are Baltimore, 804,874 (1930 census); Cumberland, 37,747; Hagerstown, 30,861. The capital is Annapolis, 12,531.

Agriculture.

Maryland leads the states in the packing of tomatoes and stands high also for production of strawberries, spinach and sweet potatoes.

In addition to farming, the oyster, crab and fishing industry amounts to over $3,500,000 annually.

Mineral Products.

Production of bituminous coal, which furnished in 1937 about one third of the total value of the state's mineral products (amounting in that year to $10,634,854) was reduced to an estimated 1,306,000 tons in 1938, compared with the figure of the previous year, 1,548,980 tons valued at $3,315,000. The output of coke was also proportionately lower; 1,105,262 tons as against 1,513,651 in 1937. Shipments of pig iron amounted in 1938 to 1,219,611 tons. Sand and gravel shipments in 1938 added the sum of $1,831,548 to the total value of the state's minerals.

Industry.

Business conditions at the beginning of the year were about on a par with conditions in 1938. There was, however, a steady rise from a low in January of 89.4, in industrial employment, to 101.6 in September, while industrial payrolls also increased from 97.9 in January to 117.5 in September.

Baltimore, the eighth largest city in the United States on the basis of total population, is one of the country's outstanding industrial and commercial centers. In addition to having some of the largest industrial enterprises of their kind in existence, Baltimore has unexcelled rail transportation facilities which, with regular domestic and overseas steamship services to all principal seaports, insures rapid and convenient access to all markets and sources of raw material. Unlike many of the important industrial centers of the country, Baltimore's economic welfare is not dependent upon any one industry or group of industries. The 1,800 factories located in the city and environs manufacture hundreds of separate classes of products. The local plants normally afford employment for over 100,000 wage earners and 15,000 salaried employees, and the aggregate value of their annual output, according to the 1937 Federal Census, exceeds $925,000,000. The combined expenditure in that year for materials, fuel, power, and supplies for use in manufacture, amounted to more than $573,000,000, while the total outlay for wages and salaries was nearly $160,000,000.

Located near Baltimore is the largest tidewater steel plant in the world, the Bethlehem Steel Co. at Sparrows Point, which employs over 22,000 persons. Also located nearby, on Middle River, is the Glen L. Martin Airplane Mfg. Co., the largest single airplane construction unit in the world, where about 11,000 persons are employed. Located in Maryland are also the largest plants in the world devoted to the manufacture of stainless steel, tin containers, bottle closures, spices and extracts, also the world's largest producers of alcohol, fertilizer, bichromate, paint brushes, brooms, and straw hats, and the largest copper refinery in the world. What may become one of Maryland's largest industries is now under way in Harford County, just outside Baltimore; the Bata Shoe Company, which was formerly located in Czecho-Slovakia, is expected to spend $1,000,000 each year for the next seven years on construction. New duplex homes are being constructed for the workers, and a complete village will soon be located near the factory, with churches, schools, a theater, and a modern sewage plant. When completed this will probably be the largest shoe factory in the world.

In total water-borne commerce, Baltimore has attained the rank of second seaport of the United States; it is second in foreign trade tonnage; second in imports; and first in intercoastal shipments westward through the Panama Canal. Approximately 28,000,000 tons of cargo, valued at more than one billion dollars were handled in 1937. Recently Baltimore was brought twenty-four hours closer to north Atlantic and European ports by the enlargement of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal to admit deep-draft ships.

Education.

Total enrollment for 1938-39 in the state's 1,454 schools was 298,123. Current expenditure for public education amounted to $20,228,593. The high schools continued to attract an increasing number of pupils, the total white county enrollment showed an increase of 6,590 pupils, reaching a peak of 41,204 in 1939. The further extension and improvement of transportation facilities was responsible for the greater part of the increase in high-school enrollment, as well as in the elementary schools. Inhabitants of school age (5-18) numbered 404,416, according to the November 1938 census.

The most interesting educational developments in Maryland during 1938-39 were the continued growth in high-school enrollment; the extension of the educational and vocational guidance program to one or more high schools in each county; the evaluation of a number of county high schools by means of the 'Evaluative Criteria' developed by the Staff of the Cooperative Study of Secondary School Standards; the publication of bulletins helpful to county high school teachers of English and science, and with reference to the problems of democracy; progress in curriculum revision of social studies for elementary school pupils; extension of art instruction; additional classes for mentally handicapped pupils in the counties and for physically handicapped children in county institutions.

The 1939 Legislature set up a new salary schedule for white teachers, provided funds for night schools and for physical education work with county girls, and prompted transportation safety through more careful school-bus regulations. A state law now requires motorists to come to a full stop both in front of and behind a school bus which has stopped to take on or discharge children. A decision recently handed down by the United States District Court, that Negro schoolteachers who are as well qualified as white teachers must receive equal salaries, will probably affect all counties in the State and may create a precedent that will be followed in other states as well. The average salary paid the 8,913 teachers during 1938-39 was $1,647, a slight increase over the average for 1937-38.

The University of Maryland is nearing completion of a $2,400,000 building program which has enlarged the plant of the institution by approximately 35 per cent. This expansion is necessary to take care of the rapid growth in student enrollment, which increased from 3,192 students in 1931 to 4,911 in 1939; and to provide additional facilities for research and extension service to the people of the state. The most interesting project in the current program is the restoration of the historic old Rossbourg Inn, built in 1798, the oldest building on the campus. It formerly served as one of the stopping places on the main post road running between Baltimore and the North. The facilities of Baltimore's professional schools are being increased through the new Medical Research Laboratory; two additional floors for the University Hospital; and additions to the Dentistry Building and the Nurses' Home. Funds for the program were provided by an appropriation from the state Legislature, private gifts, and a Public Works Administration grant.

Political Events.

As no state-wide elections were held during the year there were few political events of importance. Governor O'Conor's legislative program, as well as his appointments, which went to men of high standing many of whom had never before held political positions, met with general approval.

Legislation.

The Legislature convened on January 4th for the regular biennial session, lasting for 90 days. Governor O'Conor, who took office in January, submitted a balanced budget, through the medium of taxes on real estate, beer, wine, liquor, theater admissions, recordings of certain instruments, music boxes, wagers on races, income, etc. For the first time in the history of the state, funds for relief were included and made part of the regular state budget.

The outstanding legislative acts passed during the 1939 session were as follows; providing for a Constitutional amendment that the Governor shall not be eligible to succeed himself; for the appointment of Trial Magistrates in the several counties of the state on a salary basis, to replace the old Justice of the Peace system, which depended on the fee basis; replacement of coroners by Deputy Medical Examiners, who must be licensed doctors of medicine, appointed by the newly created Department of Post Mortem Examiners; establishing additional educational requirements for admission to the bar, i.e. one year of college education after January 1940, and two years of college education after 1941. It was also made unlawful for any female below the age of 16 or any male below the age of 18 to marry, or for a parent to permit such marriage, or for any female between the ages of 16 and 18 or any male under 21 to marry unless consent has been given by parent or guardian in a signed affidavit. A Legislative Council was created, composed of 14 members of the General Assembly and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, whose function shall be to prepare a legislative program in the form of recommendations or bills to be presented to the next session of the General Assembly. The speed limit was increased on dual highways from 45 to 55 miles per hour. The Legislature amended the Election Laws relating to the nomination of candidates for state-wide offices and eliminating second-choice voting — this was brought about chiefly because of the last election, which proved that the then existing law was so complicated that nearly two weeks were required after the election before the results were definitely known.

Finances.

When the fiscal year ended September 30, 1939, the state's cash balance stood at $14,889,733.34. This represented a decrease of $1,090,741.65 from 1938. State-owned property increased in value from $160,219,111.66 in 1938 to $177,380,882.19, a gain of $7,161,770.53 during the year. The bonded indebtedness was reduced by $2,084,000.00, bringing the total state indebtedness to $46,163,000.00, at the close of business on Sept. 30, 1939. The state's income from all sources during the year amounted to $66,061,555.81, an increase of more than $4,000,000 over 1938. Disbursements for the same period amounted to $67,152,297.46. The amount spent for relief amounted to $7,688,026.74. In addition to this amount the Federal Government spent $3,153,721.59 for relief in the state during the year.

Banking.

On June 30, 1939, Maryland had 63 National Banks with deposits of $268,496,000, loans totaling $63,972,000, and investments worth $182,913,000. The 115 State Banks had deposits of $321,945,000, loans of $104,983,000 and investments of $119,063,000. The 12 Mutual Savings Institutions had deposits of $224,525,000, loans of $38,440,000 and investments of $171,641,000.

State Officers.

The chief officers of the state are as follows: Governor, Herbert R. O'Conor; Secretary of State, Francis Petrott; Attorney General, William C. Walsh; State Treasurer, Hooper S. Miles; State Comptroller, J. Millard Tawes; State Superintendent of Schools, Albert S. Cook; Adjutant General, Brig. Gen, Milton A. Record.

United States Senators.

Millard E. Tydings, George L. Radcliffe.