INTRODUCTION 23 



"That from and after the Tenth Day of December, in the year One 

 thousand seven hundred and forty eight the Land lying at present in 

 Prince George's County, and contained within the bounds following, viz., 

 by a Line that leads from Mattaicoman run, in the Road commonly called 

 the Rolling Road, that leads from the late dwelling Plantation of Mr. 

 Edtcard Neale, through the lower part of Mr. Peter Dent's Dwelling Planta- 

 tion, until it strikes Patowmack River, at or near the bounded Tree of a 

 Tract of Land whereon John Beall, junior now lives (standing on the Bank 

 of the aforesaid River, at the lower end of the aforesaid Beall's Plantation) 

 then with the River to the Mouth of Mattawoman Creek, shall be and for 

 ever hereafter deemed as a Part of Charles County. . . ." 



The second act passed in 1748 related to the erection of Frederick 

 County from all the less settled portions of Prince G-eorge's County. 

 According to^ this law it was enacted : 



"that all the land lying to the westward of a line beginning at the lower 

 side of the mouth of Rock Creek and thence by a straight line joining to 

 the east side of Seth Hyatts plantation, to the Patuxent River should be 

 taken from Prince George's County and made into a new jurisdiction to be 

 called Frederick County." 



The linal change in the houndaries of Prince George's County was 

 made in 1791 when the District of Columbia was ceded to the 

 jSTational Grovernment from portions of Montgomery and Prince 

 George's counties. 



Agriculture is the principal occupation of the inhabitants of Prince 

 George's County. At one time or another practically every acre of 

 ground, except on the steep slopes along the streams, has been under 

 cTiltivation. The urban population is, however, on the increase and 

 the small towns along the railroads and trolley lines are rapidly 

 growing. In the vicinity of Washington truck farming is carried on 

 extensively and the farms are generally of small size. In the 

 southern portion of the county tobacco is the most profitable crop, 

 wliile elsewhere corn and wheat are the principal products. 



The manufacturing interests of the county are neither extensive 

 nor varied. A woolen mill which has been in operation a great many 

 years is located at Laurel, while minor manufacturing interests of 

 various kinds are carried on in the small towns of the region. 



