American city lighted by gas; the first steam passenger train in America ran from Baltimore to Ellicott City; the first steamship to cross the Atlantic sailed from Baltimore; the first electric telegraph line was strung from Baltimore to Washington; the first paid fire department in America was that of Baltimore; the first school of dentistry in the world was established in the Monumental City; the first iron building was the former home of the Baltimore Sun; and the first American Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Baltimore.
On February 7-8, 1904, the entire business section of the city was wiped out by a fire which destroyed $70,000,000 worth of property. The conflagration proved the beginning of a new era in the life of the city. Not only were the destroyed buildings replaced, in most instances by better structures, but the municipality seized the opportunity for extensive improvements. Many important business streets, which had been too narrow to accommodate the heavy traffic imposed upon them, were widened. The two thoroughfares skirting upon the wharf property of the basin—Light and Pratt Streets— were changed from narrow and unattractive streets to avenues of great width. At the same time a new system of modern concrete piers was begun along Pratt Street, ranging in length from 550 to 1,450 feet and having docks 150 feet wide, giving a total surface area of 23 ½ acres. At the same time a complete sewerage system was undertaken, at a cost of $10,000,000. Enormous sums of money were appropriated for improving the streets and roads of the Annex, while considerable additions were made to the city parks, which already include one of the finest natural pleasure grounds of the world in Druid Hill Park.
Baltimore has made great advance as a manufacturing town in the past two decades, and ranks seventh among the manufacturing cities of America. It is the largest city for the slaughtering and packing of meat upon the Atlantic seaboard. The city ranks first in the canning and preserving of fruits and vegetables and also in the canning and preserving of oysters. It ranks third in the manufacture of all kinds of factory-made clothing for men, women and children, and sixth in the hand-trades manufactures. The city is also an important center for the manufacture of tobacco goods, foundry and machine shop products, factory-made furniture. Baltimore is a great export center for both coal and grain.
Baltimore ranks as a foremost educational center. The Johns Hopkins University, opened in 1876, is primarily an institution for graduate and research work, but has also an efficient undergraduate department. The Peabody Institute contains a world-famed historical library and has connected with it a conservatory of music. The Woman's College, the Maryland Institute—School of Art and Design; and colleges of medicine, law, dentistry and pharmacy are located in the city. The public schools are equal to those of any other American city. The Enoch Pratt Free Library—with more than 200,000 volumes and numerous branches—is one of the greatest free libraries in America. The public buildings include the magnificent new Custom-House, the marble Court-House, Walter's Art Gallery— containing one of the finest private collections of paintings in the United States, the Johns Hopkins Hospital—covering several city blocks—and numerous other notable structures, Baltimore is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric and of a Protestant Episcopal bishopric. Population, (1910), 558,485.
Baltimore, Lord, a title of the Calvert family. In 1625 Sir George Calvert was made first Lord Baltimore by James I, and granted land in Newfoundland; but the colony which he founded was a failure. He then petitioned Charles I for a charter to found a new colony, but died (1632) before the charter was issued. His son, Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, received the charter in June, 1632, and was thus the real founder of Maryland colony. The whole state of Maryland was included in the grant, and Leonard Calvert, a brother of Lord Baltimore, came with an expedition as governor in 1633. Under the Calverts the colony was managed in a wise and tolerant manner.
Baltimore Oriole or Baltimore bird, also called Firebird, is a beautiful bird, very common in North America, from Canada to Mexico. The birds come from the south in May, and in trees and vines near houses build their hanging nests of moss and fibers skillfully woven together. Threads, strings and horsehairs are used in building the nest, which is a deep hanging pouch about six inches long. The birds are about seven inches long, with sharp bills, pointed wings and rounded tail. The plumage is beautiful, especially in the males, being a glossy black, mixed with bright orange and yellow. These were the colors of Lord Baltimore's livery, hence the name. Their song is strong and pleasant, a ringing whistle easily imitated. They are valuable for their destruction of insect larvae, like the tent-caterpillar, canker worm, etc. Lady Baltimore, as the nest builder is called by the author of Bird Neighbors, is one of the best architects in the world. Of the splendid male the poet Lowell says: "Hush! 'tis he! My oriole, my glance of summer fire."
Baluchistan (ba-lōō'chĭs-tān' ), a rugged country of southwestern Asia, bounded on the north by Afghanistan, on the south "by the Arabian Sea, on the west by Persia and on the east by Hindustan. It has an area of 111,855 square miles.
