Exactly: Maryland would wrap around this alternate federal district.
I could see this as pushing for the development of a northeastern rail corridor, especially after construction of the PRR Hudson River tunnels. I don't see, however, a major impact on Baltimore as a port, since the Patapsco is a fine natural harbor. What I could see also is the ~30 miles between Baltimore and Havre de Grace getting settled / built up in a big hurry to the point that it would be one long run of development today--even more so than IOTL.
One possible side effect: a second interstate route from Harrisburg through Dauphin and York Counties, but this one running southeast toward Havre de Grace so that the bureaucrats could live around Red Lion, Dallastown, Yoe, or Delta and still have a fairly easy commute.
I could see this as pushing for the development of a northeastern rail corridor, especially after construction of the PRR Hudson River tunnels. I don't see, however, a major impact on Baltimore as a port, since the Patapsco is a fine natural harbor. What I could see also is the ~30 miles between Baltimore and Havre de Grace getting settled / built up in a big hurry to the point that it would be one long run of development today--even more so than IOTL.
One possible side effect: a second interstate route from Harrisburg through Dauphin and York Counties, but this one running southeast toward Havre de Grace so that the bureaucrats could live around Red Lion, Dallastown, Yoe, or Delta and still have a fairly easy commute.