50 Board of Public Works

where the fault has lain, but the fact speaks for itself, in addition to the facts which our
own State furnishes we have only to refer to those of our sister State, Penna. The canals
and Railroads constructed by and at the expense of that State, did under political man-
agement become so great a burden upon the State that she did in 1851 determine to dispose
of them. The works then passed into the hands of private corporators, who have since made
them profitable to themselves and useful to the citizens. It is greatly to be regretted that
the history of the past furnishes so many conclusive proofs of the failure of Political rep-
resentation to manage successfully the works of Internal Improvement. It is also to be
regretted that the works of internal improvement, originally intended to develop the re-
sources of the States, and increase the wealth and influence of the body Politic must be
subordinate to dividend making concerns.⁶²

Once again the commissioners were derelict in their constitutional duty to report
to the legislature, and once again the Senate adopted an order requiring such a report.
In obedience, the commissioners made a report (the next day) as best they could, noting
that, "owing to the disturbed condition of the country, they have found it impossible
to obtain such information of the condition of the various works of Internal Improve-
ment in which the State is interested as to enable them to report as required by [the
Constitution]."⁶³

That rather perfunctory report was to be the last one made by the commissioners.
The nation was in the midst of a Civil War that engendered dramatic changes in
Maryland government, politics, and institutions. With respect to the state-financed
"works of internal improvements," the focus was changing from prudent management
to immediate divestiture. A new entity—a board of public works—was to be created
to achieve that end.

62. S. Jour. (1864), pp. 301, 356, 383-99; BPW Minutes, 17 February 1864, vol. 1851-83, pp. 140-42.

63. S. Jour. (1864), p. 399; BPW Minutes, 8 March 1864, vol. 1851-83, p. 149.