Maryland has always been a religious center. As early as 1631 services were regularly conducted on Kent Island by an ordained minister of the Church of England. The first Presbyterian church in America was established at Snow Hill about 1700, and in 1766 Robert Strawbridge established the first Methodist congregation in America in Carroll, then Frederick, County. Many of the most prominent of the early settlers were Roman Catholics, and the See of Baltimore has held the first position in America since the decree of 1858. There are 59 denominations or sects represented in Maryland, and although many of them are scattered throughout the state they show local variations in strength, which are often closely related to the history, beliefs, and nationalities of the early settlers. STATE GOVERNMENT.-The present government of the State of Maryland is based on a constitution formulated and ratified in 1867. Earlier constitutions were adopted in 1776, 1851, 1864, and the constitution of 1776 was very much changed in 1837. According to the present constitution the state is divided into 23 counties and Baltimore City, which in turn are subdivided into districts for school and election purposes. There are no units such as townships, but the local affairs of the cities, towns, and villages are carried on by officers in accordance with charters and special acts. Among the state officials are the Governor, elected for four years, and the Secretary of State, who is appointed by the Governor. The Senate and House of Delegates, which together form the General Assembly or Legislature, consist of 27 Senators, elected for four years, one from each of the 23 counties and the four districts of Baltimore City, and 101 Delegates, elected for two years. Each of the legislative districts of Baltimore is entitled to six Delegates, the number allowed the largest county. The Assembly meets every other year on the first Wednesday in January, and may remain in session only 90 days. At the call of the Governor a special session may be held, which is limited by law to 30 days. The judicial powers of the state are vested in a Court of Appeals composed of eight judges; a Circuit Court with eight chief judges (one for each judicial district), seven of whom are judges of the Court of Appeals,' the chief judge of Baltimore City not being a member of that court, and 22 associate judges, eight of the latter with the chief judge above-mentioned constituting the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, the other judicial districts having two associate judges each; and an Orphans' Court with 72 judges. The Appeal and Circuit Court judges are elected for 15 years, the judges of the Orphans' Court for four, the registrars of wills for six, and the sheriffs for two. The Attorney-General of the state and the State's Attorneys are elected for four years. Justices of the peace, constables, coroners, and notaries are appointed by the Governor. Among other prominent state officials are the Comptroller, who is the financier for the state, and who is elected by the people for two years; and the Treasurer, who is the banker and who is elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term. The more important state organizations are the Board of Public Works, consisting of the Governor, Comptroller, and Treasurer; Maryland National Guard, State Conservation Commission, Land Office, State' Board of Agriculture, State Geological Survey, State Roads Commission, State Board of Forestry, Bureau of Industrial Statistics, Immigration Bureau, Board of Education, Board of Health, Board of State Aid to Charities, Penal Commission, and State Lunacy Commission. EDUCATION. The educational history of the state dates back to 1696, when Governor Francis Nicholson established the first public school at Annapolis, now St. John's College. The state schools were brought under the general supervision of the State Board of Education in 1864, and are now supported by state and local taxation. A State Superintendent of Schools was provided for by the General Assembly of 1900. The number of public schools in Maryland in 1914 was 2485, of which 1935 were for the whites (Baltimore 95), and 550 for the colored (Baltimore 16). The number of public school teachers was 5996, of which 5056 were white (Baltimore 1589), and 940 colored (Baltimore 268). The number of public school pupils was 245,258, of which 200,783 were whites (Baltimore 1 The eighth judge from Baltimore City does not serve in the Circuit Court. 76,539), and 44,475 colored (Baltimore 12,088). The total value of public school property in 1915 was $11,110,587 (Baltimore $6,065,717), and the amount expended for public school purposes for the year ending July 31, 1915, was $5,904,859.81 (Baltimore $2,585,312.95). The state school system also includes normal schools for teachers, schools for the deaf and dumb, and for the blind. Baltimore is the educational center of the state. In this city are located the Johns Hopkins University (established in 1876, Medical School in 1892, Engineering Department, 1912); Maryland University (Medical College, 1807, Law School 1869, Dental School 1882, School of Pharmacy 1904, St. John's College added 1907); Goucher College (1888); Loyola College (Roman Catholic 1852); the Peabody Institute (1866); the Maryland Institute (1826); and several other institutions.. Within the limits of the state are also the State College of Agriculture at College Park (1859); St. John's College at Annapolis (1789); Washington College at Chestertown (1782); Mt. St. Mary's College at Emmitsburg (Roman Catholic, 1808); Western Maryland College at Westminster (Methodist Protestant, 1867); Rock Hill College near Ellicott City (1857); and many smaller institutions. CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS.-Maryland has several hundred charitable institutions which care for the poor and unfortunate of the state. Many of these are nonsectarian, but the great majority are supported by the various religious organizations. There has been established recently an Alliance of Charitable and Social Agencies of Baltimore that embraces the leading general organizations of this character, including the Federated Charities, Henry Watson Children's Aid Society, Babies' Milk Fund Association, Friendly Inn Association, Prisoner's Aid Society, Instructive Visiting Nurse Association, Maryland Association for the Prevention and Relief of Tuberculosis, Social Service Corporation, Mothers' Relief Society, Travellers' Aid Society, Mental Hygiene Society, and the Maryland Children's Aid Society. There are several large hospitals in Baltimore, including the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Maryland University Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Maryland General Hospital, etc., while there are local hospitals at Cumberland, Hagerstown, Cambridge, Easton, and other towns. There are also several hospitals for the insane maintained both by the state and by privately endowed boards, among the more important being the State Hospital at Springfield, maintained under state auspices, and the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, maintained by private endowment. There is also an asylum and training school for the feeble-minded at Owings Mills and a State Sanitarium at Sabillasville. The state has various correctional institutions, including the State Penitentiary at Baltimore and the House of Correction at Jessups. There are also reform schools for the incorrigible youth of the state. HIGHWAYS, CANALS, AND RAILROADS.-During the early years of the province transportation was entirely by water, and compensation for boat hire instead of mileage was allowed to the members of the Assembly from Kent and Anne Arundel counties. At first the construction and repair of roads was a matter of private concern, and over a quarter of a century. elapsed between the settlement at St. Mary's and the passage of the first road law of the colony in 1666, under which overseers were appointed by the county courts. Even at this time the "highwaies" were little more than trails through the forests and transportation by wagons was as yet unknown. A great advance upon the earlier methods was made by the establishment in 1695 of a regular post route, largely by land, from the Potomac River to Philadelphia via Annapolis and the Eastern Shore. Further road legislation was enacted in 1696 and in 1704, under the latter act provision being made for public roads 20 feet in width. This act remained the law of the province for 50 years, and it was during this period that the so-called "notch roads" were built. One of these, the Three-Notch road of Southern Maryland, shows even to-day the notches. cut in the oaks along its route. During this period also were built many of the so-called "rolling roads" for the rolling of tobacco in hogsheads to tide. The name still persists in the Rolling Road of Baltimore County. In 1765 a stage line was established between Baltimore and Philadelphia, and soon thereafter ferries and stage lines extended southward into |