Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/275

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BALTIMORE 255 26,000. There are published in the city 9 daily- newspapers, of which 3 are in German; 1 tri- weekly; 16 weekly, of which 3 are in German; 9 monthly; and 1 quarterly, the "Southern Re- view." The Peabody institute was founded by the munificence of Mr. George Peabody. His first gift of $300,000, subsequently increased to $1,000,000, is to establish a gallery of the finest works of art, a library of the first class, and, during certain seasons of the year, concerts and lectures. The institute, a marble building facing the Washington monument, contains the concert hall on the first floor and the library on the second floor. The library numbers nearly 20,000 volumes of standard works, and is increasing at the rate of from 4,000 to 5,000 volumes annually. It is a library of reference, and its books are free to all for use within the rooms. To the east of the present building a lot has been purchased upon which an acad- emy of art will be erected. Johns Hopkins, a wealthy citizen, has deeded his residence and grounds near the city limits, on the Harford road, to trustees, to be held in trust after his death 'for a university, and has further pro- vided for its liberal endowment. From her several monuments, Baltimore is frequently designated as the "monumental city." In 1809 the legislature granted permission to erect a monument to George Washington. This was erected at the intersection of Charles and Mon- ument streets, on a lot of ground given for the purpose by Col. John Eager Howard. It is a Doric column of white marble, rising from a base 50 ft. square and 35 ft. high. The shaft of the column is 160 ft. high, and is surmount- ed by a colossal statue of Washington 15 ft. high. The Battle monument is in the centre of Monument square, formed by the intersec- tion of Calvert and Fayette streets. This is also Washington Monument. of white marble, and is 53 ft. high. It was erected to the memory of the citizens who fell in the defence of Baltimore, Sept. 12 and 13, 69 VOL. n. 17 1814. It consists of a square base with a ped- estal ornamented at each comer with a sculp- tured griffin. A fasciated column rises from the base, with bands, upon which are inscribed the names of those who perished. A statue representing the genius of Baltimore surmounts the column. On North Broadway a plain mar- ble pediment and shaft, surmounted by a statue of Thomas Wildey, commemorates the founder of the order of Odd Fellows in the United States. The bank of Maryland was established in 1790. The failure of this institution in 1834 caused riots in the succeeding year, when the mob sacked several houses belonging to promi- nent directors of the bank. In 1792 a branch of the United States bank was established in Baltimore, the charter of which expired in 1835. In 1795 the bank of Baltimore was chartered; in 1804 the Union bank of Mary- land; in 1806 the Mechanics' bank; and in 1810 the Franklin, Marine, Farmers' and Mer- chants', and the Commercial and Farmers'. Other banking institutions were chartered sub- sequently, and there are now 14 national banks, with an aggregate capital of $11,241,985 ; 8 state banks, with $2,563,013; and 7 savings banks. There are 23 insurance companies, chiefly fire, with an aggregate capital of $3,501,- 585, besides numerous agencies. The city has 52 hotels, 9 markets, and 8 lines of city pas- senger railways. Baltimore is divided into 20 wards, and is governed by a mayor and city council, consisting of 20 members in the first branch and 10 in the second. In 1769 the "Mechanical" fire company was organized, and purchased their first engine for $250. The paid fire department now comprises 9 engines and 3 hook and ladder companies. The expenses of the department for 1871 to Nov. 1 were $125,197 39. The fire inspector reports 156 fires within the city limits in the same period; loss, $475,394 87; loss by fire in 1870, $432,717 07. In connection with the fire department there is a fire alarm telegraph with 94 stations, ramifying to every portion of the city; its cost for 1871 was $15,249 84. The police force is governed by a board of three commissioners appointed by the legislature. Under this board are a marshal, deputy mar- shal, 4 captains, 8 lieutenants, and 489 uni- formed patrolmen. The city is chiefly supplied with waterfrom Roland lake, about 7 m. distant, and 225 ft. above tide. Mount Royal reservoir is near the N. limits of the city, 150 ft. above tide. On July 4, 1828, the corner stone of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was laid by Charles Carroll of Carrollton. This road now extends to Columbus, Ohio, a distance of 518 m., and is one of the grandest works of its kind in the world. The other railroads centring here are the Baltimore and Susquehanna, usually called the Northern Central ; the Philadelphia, Wilming- ton, and Baltimore; the Washington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio ; the Western Mary- land; and the Baltimore and Potomac. The last-named road was opened for travel in 1872.