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42 MARYLAND MANUAL The Late Nineteenth Century The last half of the Nineteenth Century was relatively uneventful in Maryland. Except for the years 1895 to 1899, the Democratic party controlled the State. The nationwide boom in industry and commerce brought increased business to Baltimore and the State, and an increase in rail and water facilities in spite of the 1877 rail strike and the 1894 coal strike. Many Marylanders helped in the South, while Baltimoreans turned again to Southern markets for com- mercial outlets. The growth of industrial enterprise and fortunes made large philanthropies possible. Among these were the gift to establish a library, conservatory of music and art gallery by the one-time Baltimore resident George Peabody (1866); the endowment of a university by the merchant Johns Hop- kins (1876); and the gift of a free public library by the merchant Enoch Pratt (1882). The scattering public schools of the pre-war period were consolidated into a strong centrally administered educa- tional system and public education became a reality. Few Marylanders saw action in the Spanish-American War, the most notable being Admiral Winfield Scott Schley of Frederick County, who was in active command at San- tiago when the Spanish fleet was destroyed. The First and Fifth Regiments were mustered into Federal service shortly after the declaration of war, but saw no action. Instead they were stationed at camps in the South until their dis- charge in 1899. The Twentieth Century The story of Maryland in the Twentieth Century is more one of steady growth and progress rather than dramatic events or heroic accomplishments. Despite its $125,000,000 fire which began February 7, 1904, Baltimore forged ahead to become the Nation's sixth largest city by 1960, while the State, augmented by the expansion of the suburbs of Wash- ington into adjoining counties, rose to the rank of eight- eenth in population although only forty-second in area. In World War I, approximately 75,000 Maryland citizens served in the armed forces. Both the 29th and 79th Infantry Divisions fought with distinction in the Meuse-Argonne offensive of 1918. The Federal government found Maryland a convenient location for many of its military establish- ments. The United States Army built Fort George G. Meade on more than 7,500 acres near Odenton and established its proving ground at Aberdeen and an arsenal at Edge- |
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Maryland Manual, 1973-74
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