316 State Papers and Addresses
under this project, more indexing has been done than during the preceding
four years. Among the important indexes which have been added are (1) a
three-volume photostatic index of Anne Arundel County Deeds, (2) a three-
volume handwritten index to Baltimore County Deeds, (3) typewritten card-
indexes, totaling 139, 200 cards, covering various references, proceedings, etc.
Maryland Publicity Commission—Maryland's problem, in connection with
tourist and recreational advertising, is a unique one. Unlike many other states,
Maryland already has a vast volume of tourist traffic; in fact, this State ranks
third among the forty-eight states. However, in an estimate of visitors and
expenditures for 1939, it was found that Maryland did not get nearly its share
of the tourist dollar. Maryland's visitors, never having known of its attrac-
tions through promotional advertising, passed through the State apparently
without thought of stopping long enough for the State to benefit from conse-
quent expenditures. For example, in 1939, Maryland had 13, 249, 668 visitors
who spent $41, 148, 319. 00. Virginia, on the other hand, had 13, 410, 860 visitors
(only 161, 201 more than Maryland) who spent $106, 709, 451. 00.
The major effort of the Commission was the preparation of printed material
in the form of a 48-page booklet, "Maryland, America in Miniature". This single
effort was outstanding in that it not only received editorial praise from the press
of the State, but in many instances the Chief Executives of other States, adver-
tising experts and people from far and wide commended the publication.
Twenty thousand of these booklets were printed and the Commission could
have distributed three times that number.
The Commission is also distributing 20, 000 Five-Day Tour Maps of Mary-
land's Picturesque Routes.
The Maryland Poster Stamp Campaign was inaugurated to raise addi-
tional funds for advertising purposes, and at the same time it was in itself
a method of publicizing Maryland's attractions throughout the nation in a novel
manner.
Although the first 50, 000 sets had to bear the cost of the original drawings,
advertising costs and setting up of mechanical arrangements for the handling—
besides the actual printing cost—it is expected that the Commission will have
netted $2, 245. 34 from the sale of these stamps.
The Commission has furnished displays of the State of Maryland through
agencies in many states, and photographs and material for newspaper and
magazine articles about Maryland have been provided. Many magazines with
nation-wide circulation have carried articles about the State as a result of
this activity.
State Employment Commission—With the addition to the Civil Service
System of the State during the past two years, of the employees of the Un-
employment Compensation Board, it is a pleasure to report that '53% of all
State employees are now serving under the Merit System. The people of Mary-
land and the employees so protected have every reason to be gratified that their
interests are being safeguarded.
Unquestionably, the goal of efficient administration towards which we are
striving is rendered more easily attainable when employees who have become
efficient in their own sphere, can work with the assurance that their positions
are secure.
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