The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-05-12

The first annual report of Mr.. y. b.
Howard, Jr., Chief of the Bureau of
Industrial Statistics of Maryland, is an
interesting document. 1t contains
many valuable suggestions and statis-
tics, all of which show that Mr.. How
ard is the right man in the right place.
Each county and Baltimore city is
described as fully and completely as
it is possible to do in work OF this
kind and review is given of all the
great industrial interests of the State.
Among other things the oyster indus
try, taxation and assessment and the
hubble roads are each adverted to at
length and in an intelligent manner.
On the oyster question Mr.. Howard
says that the preponderance of pub
lie opinion is that the oyster beds are
fast being depleted, and that among
the plans suggested to prevent their
utter destruction the force of the ar
gument seems clearly with those who
are in favor of leasing the unproduc-
tive bottoms. Public roads and their
cost are intelligently discussed and
the method of expanding the road
money in each county is described.
The review of the counties sets
forth the peculiar advantages Of
each for capital and immigration to
develope our natural resources. The
report in this respect is gratifying
and valuable. Concerning Hartford
the following is said:
Area, 4sa square miles i; population, rs sss !;
white, % AS; negro, 9,577. Increase over
1880, 951 or $3.50 per cent. Area per capita,
nine acres or sixty-nine persons to squae
mile Assessed value Of property, $12, 969, 1874.
County tax rate, $103. Size of farms, so to
500 acres. Price of farming lands. $25 to
500. Principal industries, canning and
agriculture. Principal farm products, corn,
wheat, hay, potatoes and tomatoes. Trans
portation facilities, Baltimore & Ohio, Phila-
delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore, and
Baltimore and Lehigh Railroads. County
seat, Bel Air.
years has shown a marked improvement in
its farms and buildings. The general charac-
ter Of the soil varies from light loan to a
heavy red clay. The general condition OF
farms is very good, large acres of which are
unsurpassed in fertility. The proportion OF
untitled land is probably one-fourth of the
whole area, though a great deal of this is
woodland. There is practically no land
abandoned on account of its poor character.
About three-fourths of the cultivated land
is worked by the owners, and there are very
few colored tenants, perhaps less than so In
the whole county. Farm labor is paid from
rs cents to $3.50 day with board, and is
in ai, lv c,,pdttion Good labOrprs are
somewhat scarce, especially during the can
ming season. First-class labor Is nearly al
ways in demand.
Immigrants as land buyers would be very
welcome accession. Large tracts are not at
tainable, but small farms from sixty to one
hundred and fifty acres can be purchased al
low prices. The climatic advantages, gener
Gus soil, hospitable neighbors and good
school system are among the inducements
presented to the better class of immigrants.
Since the opening of the Maryland and
Central Railroad, baltimore and Lehigh,
the milk trade has greatly increased and 8
daily shipment of l 800 gallons is carried Oh
this road. Live stock has been greatly i'm
proved of late by the introduction of SUI
perior breeds.
Canning is the most extensive industry in
the county. There are 500 packing houses OF
more in operation in the season. The early
fruits and vegetables in the spring open the
factories, and they continue along until late
in the winter. The entire pack of fruits and
vegetables in prosperous year aggregated
nearly million cases.
Among the manufacturing industries arc
paper mills, q shoe factory in Hayre de Grace
and a number of carriage factories. Along
the Susquehanna river duck shooting is as
fine, perhaps, as in any part of the country
and the ducks from that section bring higt
prices. They feed on wild celery, vast beds
of which are found on the Susquehanna flats
Carloads of these ducks are shipped to the
North and West, and in many cases large
quantities are sent to Europe. Hartford is
one of the leading corn-producing counties o.
the State.
The railroad facilities of the county are
excellent.