Ch. 121

LAWS OF MARYLAND

WHEREAS, With the backing of the National Maritime
Historical Society (publisher of Sea History Magazine) an
organization was formed to work toward the preservation of the
John W. Brown. Although there were, at that time, several
Liberties that might have been candidates for restoration, John
W. Brown was the logical choice. A small staff of volunteers
began planning for the day when New York would close down its
floating high school and the ship would become available. A
membership drive was commenced and publication of a newsletter,
Liberty Log, was begun; and

WHEREAS, While its membership slowly grew the Project's
staff continued to search for a berth in New York and
accomplished several other important steps. A law was passed in
Congress transferring title of the ship from the Maritime
Administration to Project Liberty Ship. Application was made,
and accepted, for listing of the ship on the National Register of
Historic Places. The John W. Brown became a "National Register
Ship", one of the very few such ships in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Finally, in late 1987, Project officers gave up
their attempts to berth the John W. Brown in New York and turned
to Baltimore. In January of 1988 the City of Baltimore took up
the challenge to accept the ship in Baltimore; and

WHEREAS, From the original group who met at the museum, a
core committee was formed to begin the effort. "Project Liberty
Ship Baltimore" is now at work, with the full backing and support
of the parent group in New York, to permanently display the John
W. Brown in the harbor of her birth. Project Liberty Ship
continues to grow. With almost 1,500 members nationwide, with
the support of federal, State, and local officials, and with
Baltimore's close-knit maritime community behind it, the success
of this project is inevitable; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That:

(1)  The Board of Public Works may borrow money and incur
indebtedness on behalf of the State of Maryland through a State
loan to be known as the Project Liberty Ship Loan of 1989 in the
total principal amount of $300,000 $250,000 $225,000. This loan
shall be evidenced by the issuance, sale, and delivery of State
general obligation bonds authorized by a resolution of the Board
of Public Works and issued, sold, and delivered in accordance
with §§ 8-117 through 8-124 of the State Finance and Procurement
Article and Article 31, § 22 of the Code.

(2)  The bonds to evidence this loan or installments of this
loan may be sold as a single issue, or may be consolidated and
sold as part of a single issue of bonds under § 8-122 of the
State Finance and Procurement Article.

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