Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-09-27
Baltimore City Exten-
sion.

N Dear Sir -
\ On February 18th, 1877. the Board
Of Directors Of the bipartisan
Greater Baltimore Extension League,
in pursuance of the authority confer
red upon them at the general meet
ing at which the League was organ
lied, appointed the following COM
mittee to prepare and report to the
League a proper Bill enlarging the
boundaries Of Baltimore City, in ac-
cordance with the declaration Of prin-
ciples and purposes Of this League.
HON. JAMES ALFRED PEARCE,
Former Judge Of the Court Of Ap-
peals,
HON. HENRY d. HARLAN,
Former Chief Judge of the Supreme
Bench of Baltimore City,
HON. JOHN +. MUD,
Former Senator from Charles county,
ALEXANDER r. HAGNER, ESQ,
City Attorney, Hagerstown, Md.
BENJAMIN A. RICHMOND, ESQ,
Cumberland, Nd.
HON. GEORGE r. GATHER, JR.,
Former Attorney General,
MESSRS. WILLIAM L. MAR
BURY, s. s. FIELD, w. CALVIN
CHESTNUT aid JOHN Il. RICH
ARDS0N.
The resolution appointing the COM
mittee authorized the Committee 10
fill any yacancy that might occur in
its membership and to appoint an ad-
ditional member from the Curtis Bay
and Brooklyn District.
His Honor, Judge Pearee. having
been unable to serve, Hon. w. Laird
Henry, Of Cambridge, also a former
Judge OF the Court Of Appeals, was
elected by the Committee. in place
Of Judge Pearce and, subsequently,,
he Committee appointed, IN pursu-
ance Of the power conferred upon
them, Mr. James r. McGovern, as
representative of the Curtis Bay and
brooklyn District.
The Committee held it's first meet
ng on February 28th, organized by
he election Of Hon. Henry d. Har-
an ms Chairman and w. Calvin
Chestnut Esq, as secretary, and be-
gan the considers lion OF the proper
dill for extending the City Limits,
taking Senate Bill 1876 which passed
me second reading in the Senate Of
1916 as the basis.
Further sessions Of the Committee
we're held on March 7th, 18th, 2lst
AAt4 ARNliH anu a1RAH AkklH 10Th anu
10Th. At the fourth meeting, on
March 2ist, the COMMITTEES Completed
heir tentative draft OF the Bill, and
rave notice through the newspapers
that the tentative draft had been
completed and printed; that any one
iesirtng a copy could obtain one, ard
hat the Committee would NEE. on
March 28th, al the League Head.
quarters. at p. NJ, 10 consider any
suggestions or criticisms any one
might offer personally or by letter.
The Committee met for further pub
lie hearings on April 9Th, 18th and
10Th. The Committee specially In
vited the County Commissioners Of
Baltimore and Anne Arundel eonn-
ties and also the Citizens Committee
Of Baltimore County. TO present their
views TO the Committee, either In
person or in writing
After hearing the views, suRxes-
tons and criticisms Of aIl parties who
desired to present their views to the
Committee, the Committee have
agreed upon a FINAL draft Of the Bill,
and herewith present the completed
Bill, az being. In their judgment, n
proper, wise and fair measure for en-
tending the limits Of Baltimore City.
City Limits Should be Extended
The facts that the area within the
present limits Of Baltimore City Il the
most densely populated Of any city In
he country; that The overflow from
Baltimore City---eloseiy settled iust
outside the limits--has reached a
population greater than that OF any
ity IN tbs state other thar Balti-
more; that " has been twenty.nine
searg since there was any extension
& The City limits 10 the north or
west, and one hundred and one years
since there was any extension 10 the
asst together with a proper consid-
Grafton Of the public health and the
public peace and the opportunity
which is now az hand for tramen-
dous development Of the City and
HaFbor Of Baltimore az great
manufacturing snd shipping center,
ell demonstrate the necessity Of 90
extending the limits OF Baltimore
City as to enable the City TO make
the most Of the present opportunity,
and TO realize It's highest and best de.
velopment for the public welfare Of
the entire State.
The extension shonId be sufficient
to provide for the needs and develop
aent Of the City not only for the i'm
mediate present, but for q generation
TO come, because experience shows
That extensions Of The City limits can
be obtained only after comparatively
loaR intervals
me area proposed 10 be added
from Baltimore County Is 46.5 square
miles, very small percentage, as
there viii be left 10 the county 600
square miles.
The area taken from Anne Arun-
del County Is Cd square miles, leny-
ing 10 Anne Arundel County 426
square miles
Both Of said counties win retain
the same position relative to the
other counties, both as to area and
population. which they now hold, and
the increment Of value TO the re-
naming land In the counties, after
the proposed extension due TO prox-
unity TO the City, win be sufficient 10
leave Baltimore County with an as
sessable basis more than twice as
great as that Of any other county In
the State and will leave Anne Arun-
del County with an assessable basis
larger than that Of any county on the
Eastern Shore.
0The Committee feel that the extern
Ion provided for In the present Bill
is reasonable and certainly not too
much to provide for the probable
needs Of the City in the near future.
Fair Tax Rate for Territory to be
Added