The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-05-19
Baltimore's Centennial.

Baltimore was incorporated as a city ii
1897, and in 1897, three years hence, it il
proposed to celebrate the one hundredth
anniversary of the event. And it is to be
no ordinary affair. Plans have not been
fully matured, but the celebration will be
on grand scale, in keeping with the size
and Importance of the Monumental City
A great exposition of arts, industries, man
ufactures and the products of the soil, mine
and sea, is projected, and for this purpose
the Baltimore Centennial Association
was incorporated by the Legislature at its
recent session.
The charter appears to be latitudinous
enough to enable the Association to carry
out its great conception. That conception
contemplates great southern exposition
not merely local Baltimore affair. The
State of Maryland is to be included, and
not only Maryland but the whole South
1t will not be an affair of day, or of a
week. Its continuance is limited to six
months, and its gates will be open, doubt
less. the full limit. 1t will not be on as
large scale as was the Worlds Fair at
Chicago, but it will be far more beneficial
TO the South and to the North and East.
And it will do far more for Agriculture
than dozen Worlds Fairs like that at
Chicago Agriculture has been neglected
for the past quarter of a century, and has
not progressed in the ratio that manufac-
lures have. Baltimore is the gateway to
the South and the gateway to the North.
1t stands nearly on the dividing line be-
tween the two sections, and is comm on
ground for the people North and South to
meet-the investors of the one to examine
the inducements of the other The need
of the country is not foreign immigration,
but better distribution of the present
population. The South needs the surplus
people Of the crowded North. Her cheap
lands are awaiting the developing hand of
labor. Her minerals and water power are
waiting the capital of other sections to aid
in utilizing them.
1t is the design of the Baltimore expo
sition to bring the people of the two sec
lions together on common ground, for
their mutual advancement and benefit.
The first step toward organization was
taken at the Rennert House on Monday
night, when board of twenty directors
were chosen by the stockholders as fol-
lows-Wm. T. Biedler, Albert B. Cum
ningham, Robert c. Davidson, II. I.
Doublas, Charles Goldsborough, John e.
Hurst, Thomas j. Hayward, Lloyd l..
jackson, Andrew d. Jones, Ferdinand c.
Latrobe, Daniel Miller, VIM. A. Marburg,
John X. ODER, Clinton P. Paine, Henry
A. Parr, Robert Rennert, 4. Harvie Smith,
4. Herbert Shriver, Harry T. Turner and
VIM. j. II. Walters.
Carroll is the only county repres ented
in the board, and the stockholders chose
well in selecting Mr.. Shriver. He is care
full, prudent, yet energetic, and a thorough
going business man of wide acquaintance
and knowledge that well suits him to aid
in such large undertaking. The board
is subsequently to be increased to fifty
members, and room ought to be found for
at least one director from each of the four
rural congressional districts.
The exposition is nearly three years in
the distance, but no time is to be lost in
preparations. And the Balti-
more and state press ought to take up the
matter and make the celebration known to
all the people.