174 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 4,

Fifty-eight years ago the present limits of the city were
established by Act of Assembly. Since that time the popula-
tion of Baltimore has increased in number considerably over
a quarter of a million—from 50,000 to upwards of 300,000—
a gain of more than six hundred per cent.

During the seventy years prior to the passage of the Act of
1816, the limits of the town and city had been nine times ex-
tended, the enlargement in every instance while furnishing
large additional contributions to the revenue of the State,
being absolutely required by the graduily increasing popula-
tion of the city, whose meterial interests, at each extension
of its boundaries, were also greatly advanced.

The area of Baltimore to-day is but a trifle over eleven
square miles—less than that of any other great city in the
Union. Ranked twenty years ago as the third, and even now
as the sixth, city on the Continent, its boundaries are more
contracted, by far, than those of a score of American cities
which it exceeds in population, in influence, and in commercial
importance. Philadelphia now includes, within its corporate
limits, the entire county which formerly surrounded it; New
York is enlarging its already immense area ; Brooklyn has
absorbed vast tracts of land in King's county ; Boston, con-
tinually annexing its suburban towns, has recently taken in
three more ; while Chicago, an unsettled wild long after the
present limits of our city were fixed, now stretches from north
to south, along the line of its lake shore, thirteen miles.

The extension of our city boundaries—too long deferred—
is now a matter of National, State and city importance. The
need is greater than it ever has been before. The suburbs of
Baltimore, on every side, are thickly settled. Many flourish-
ing towns and villages are closely adjacent to its limits. The
benefits which these would derive from annexation are un-
questionably great—including all the advantages of modern
and symmetrical highways and bridges, gas and water sup-
plies, fire department, police force, school system, etc. The
State of Maryland owes it to its principal city, that its limits
should be proportionate, not only to its present needs, but also
to its future promise; that its suburbs should, be equal to
those of some of the cities named, and to those of St. Louis, Cin-
cinnati, San Francisco and New Orleans. Must we stand still,
while all others are advancing, and hold a false position in the
world's estimation? As it is, many younger rivals bid fair
to distance us, as some already have done. At this rate of
progress, Baltimore would make but an indifferent showing
in the proposed Centennial Census of 1875, recording and
presenting in statistical tables the comparative growth of pop-
ulation and relative advancement of cities at the close of the
first century of our National life, and thus fixing their posi-
tion for years afterwards.