The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-01-06
LAST OF THE ANNEX. "
It's Official Existence Ceased on the
First of January, 19OO-Wonderful
Suburban Development, Etc.

Baltimore San, December 30M.
After tomorrow Baltimore, officially, will
know no such thing as the Annex. January
l, 1900, is the date fixed by law when all the
surrounding territory which voted on May IS,
1888, to merge itselfinto the city proper should
do so.
1t is we'll known, of course, that the Annex,
or BELT" as it was formerly called, has been
part of the city since June !, 1885, Its people
have had the city's fire and police protection
and its voters have taken part in city elections
Officially, the Annex has been a separate ter
ritory. separate rate of taxation has been
levied and separate accounts kept by all mu
nicipal departments. This has been the cause
of great deal of inconvenience and much adj
ditional bookkeeping. and the city officials
will be glad to speed the parting of the Annex
accounts.
The first movement toward absorbing the
fringe OF settlement surrounding the city and
called the Belt was during the term of Mayor
Vansant, which began in 1871. 1t was pro-
posed to take in all the surrounding territory
within two miles of the then city limits. The
City Council appropriated slO,OOO Tor the ex-
penses of the campaign, but the voters of the
Belt, at special election, rejected the PROPOSE
ton.
HOW ANNEXATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
When Mayor F. c. Latrobe was serving his
frs: term. beginning in 1875, he set to work to
Belt the advantages of annexation. He con-
tinued jealous missionary work along this line
during his succeeding terms and won the sup
port of number of influential citizens. In
the latter part of 1887 Mayor Latrobe and City
Solicitor Bernard Carter drew up an anneXa-
ton act, which was passed by the Legislature
of 1888.
This act provided that a spaeial election be
held May 49, 1888, at which the voters or the
Belt should decide whether that territory
4o1ya into hn off Thn
was divided into three parts, each to vote sepa-
rately upon the question. The first, or north
ern section, was bounded by line beginning at
the then northeast corner of the city, running
north two miles and west about six miles, to
the Reisterstown turnpike; then southeast
along the pike to North avenue. The boun-
Diary of the second or western section, began
two miles west of the then southwestern cor
ner of the city, ran north until 1t reached
point on line with the new northern boun-
Diary, and then ran east to join it. The third,
or eastern section, was all that territory within
one mile of the eastern boundary, and between
the new northern boundary and the Patapsco
river 1t was thus intended to take IN all the
surrounding territory for two miles west, two
miles north and one mile east of the then city
limits The eastern limit then, as now, was
East street, the northern limit North avenue
and the western limit line beginning near
the intersection of North avenue and Payson
street and running to point on Gwynn's
Falls, about four squares west OF Payson
street.
The total number of voters in the Belt was ::
Northern section 4790; western, BIB; east
ern, 1888 At the election on May 10, 1888,
'N' '0'' O'' ''''''''''V For. Against Maj. Maj.
For. Agst.
Northern. 1896 1,5ss 85s 49,.
M Easie4 Tn...,...,:..:'' $ SIs 4sS w. les
Had the vote been taken over the whole ter
ritory instead of by sections the entire Belt
would have been annexed by majority OF $50:
The campaign was exceedingly exciting and
vigorous. Numerous mass-meetings were held,
and sentiment for and against annexation ran
high. Mayor Latrobe led the fight for an
nexation in person.
CITY's AREA DOUBLED.
The new territory became part of the city on
June /, 1888. 1t added to Baltimore's area II
square miles, doubling it by over one square
mile, and brought in population of 10000 to
increase the city population of 100000
The annexation bill provided that until 1871
real and personal property in the Annex
| should be taxed for city purposes at rate not
exceeding the rate then existing in baltimore
| county, which was GO cents on the $780, The
! sum collected for taxes was to be expended IN
the Annex for improvements and in giving
the people the advantage enjoyed by the cltl,
zens of the old Baltimore. Even after l9OO
| the 60 cent rate cannot be increased on any
! landed property until avenues, streets or alleys
/ shall have been opened and constructed, nor
/ until there shall be at least six dwellings OF
stores ready for occupancy on each block.
OPPOSITION IN THE COURTS.
un A4in1nesxation was not accomplished, however
The vigorous legal battle in the courts
was attacked I, of the annexation ACT
ttese could e-oo1 ENclaim that the Legisla
! !. Ire ny as limits of the city,