1940: Maryland

Area and Population.

Maryland, thirteenth among the original states, has an area of 12,327 sq. mi. In population it ranks 28th, numbering 1,821,244 according to the 1940 census, an increase of 11.6 per cent over the 1930 census figure. Of the 1930 population, whites numbered 1,354,170, and Negroes, 276,379; other races, 977.

Baltimore, which ranked 8th in size among the cities according to the 1930 census, moved up to 7th with a population of 859,100, according to the 1940 census. Other large cities in the state are Cumberland, 39,493; Hagerstown, 32,491. The capital is Annapolis, 13,069.

Industry.

Business conditions throughout the state continued during 1940 to show a marked improvement over the previous year. The industrial employment index for January through September, was 106.7, a gain of 12.8 over the corresponding period of 1939; while the industrial payroll index also increased to 128.1, a 19.5 gain.

Maryland is one of the country's oldest and most productive manufacturing states. The annual gross value of its industrial output normally exceeds one billion dollars, while the value added by manufacture is upwards of $430,000,000. The 2,700 factories operating within the state afford employment for 146,000 wage earners and 18,000 salaried employees, and the total outlay for wages and salaries, according to the 1937 Federal Census of Manufactures, amounted to nearly $200,000,000. The combined expenditures in that year for materials, electric energy, and supplies for use in manufacture were approximately $665,000,000.

Despite its comparatively small area, Maryland has the largest manufacturing industry of any state east of the Mississippi river and south of the Mason and Dixon Line, except North Carolina. In or near the city of Baltimore are located the world's largest copper refinery, bichromate factory, sulphuric acid plant, industrial alcohol works, tin decorating plant, and spice and extract factory. One of the largest single airplane construction units, and the largest producing plants of bottle closures and paint brushes are also located there, while the huge Bethlehem steel plant, the largest on tidewater, has an annual ingot capacity of 3,000,000 tons, and gives employment to approximately 23,000 workers. In total water-borne commerce, Baltimore has attained the rank of the second seaport of the United States; it is first in intercoastal shipments westward through the Panama Canal. In 1937 approximately 28,000,000 tons of cargo, valued at more than one billion dollars, were handled there.

The state's oyster, crab and fishing industry amounts to over $3,500,000 annually.

Education.

The total enrollment for 1939-40 in the state's 1,354 public schools was 298,702. Current expenditures for public education amounted to $20,320,104. The high schools continued to attract an increasing number of pupils; the total county enrollment showed an increase of 2,006 pupils, reaching a peak of 43,310 in 1940. Inhabitants of school age (5-18), including those in private and parochial schools, numbered 402,295.

The new state minimum salary schedule for white county teachers and principals, enacted by the 1939 Legislature, went into effect in September, 1939. The average salary paid the 8,892 teachers during 1939-40 was $1,690, a slight increase over the average for 1938-39. In the spring of 1940 Governor O'Conor appointed a School Survey Commission consisting of state and county school officials. Dr. Herbert B. Bruner was appointed by the Commission to direct the survey. Twenty-three high schools were studied by their own staffs and by outside committees to determine the strengths and weaknesses according to the 'Evaluative Criteria' developed by the Cooperative Study of Secondary School Standards of the American Council on Education.

Through consolidation of schools and transportation of pupils, there were 51 fewer white and 33 fewer Negro one-teacher elementary schools than in the preceding year. Three counties organized 14 additional special classes for mentally handicapped children, bringing the total number of such classes to 50, with an enrollment of 1,080. Additional evening classes for adults were organized as a result of the appropriation of $10,000 for the purpose in the State Public School Budget. Through these state funds together with Federal vocational, and county funds, nearly 8,000 individuals took advantage of the opportunity for further education in vocational, and general fields. Maryland was the first state to organize training classes in the essential defense industries, in connection with the National Defense Training Program, for which Federal funds were made available.

Finances.

When the fiscal year ended on September 30, 1940, the state's cash balance stood at $18,998,501.13. The bonded indebtedness was further reduced by $1,997,000, bringing the total state indebtedness to $44,166,000. The state's income from all sources during the year amounted to $6,797,172.69. Disbursements for the same period amounted to $60,688,404.90. The amount spent for relief amounted to $4,216,057.17, a drop of over $3,000,000 in the amount spent during 1939. In addition to this amount the Federal Government spent $3,500,772.85 in the state for relief.

Banking.

On June 30, 1940. Maryland had 63 National Banks, with deposits of $311,802.000, loans of $68,994.000, and investments worth $181,717,000. The 114 State Banks had deposits of $350,691,370, loans of $115,902,250, and investments worth $110,586,588. The 12 Mutual Savings Institutions had deposits of $228,012,720, loans of $38,010,740, and investments of $166,139,873.

Transportation, Bridges.

The year 1940 marked a great advance in the improvement of motor vehicle transportation. Early in the summer a new four-lane toll bridge over the Susquehanna River at Havre de Grace was opened to traffic; this, with the completion of the new dual lane on U. S. Highway No. 1, will greatly improve traffic conditions between Maryland and Philadelphia, New York, and points north. Early in December the new $5,000,000 toll bridge (10,050 ft.) across the Potomac River was opened to traffic. This bridge shortens the distance between Baltimore and Richmond and the South, by 18 miles, and enables through traffic to avoid the congestion of Washington's streets. By the end of the year the state took over the privately owned Claiborne-Annapolis Ferry, which connects the Eastern and Western Shores of the state. After 24 years of discussion, the state finally agreed to purchase the ferry for slightly more than $1,000,000, after abandoning the idea of constructing a bridge across the Chesapeake Bay.

Political Events.

In the November elections President Roosevelt carried the state by about 59 per cent of the total votes cast, and Senator Radcliffe, Democrat, won a landslide victory over his Republican opponent, former Governor Harry W. Nice.

State Officers.

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.