Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-07
THE SOURCES OF THE poToMAc.-No. WI.

tne foughogany brought 10 the national road connect
ing the Ohio river with the Potomsc which, in coach
ana four was brought this town. or city, Is il should be-
caei With this celebrated national road was disappont
Oh of when remembered the immense sums Of money
expended upon since the year 1906, amounting to more
than million and half of dollars expected to ride over
something particularly fine but found it, for the most part
rousher than common road, and in dapdsted condition
The public means Of conveyance upon it, however are nu
merous and comfortable, and the scenery through which
runs is quite Interesting. With that portion Of the scenery
and the road lying between Fostburg and this town was
really delighted The distance only eleven miles, and vet
the descent Cumberland hundred feet and
this STAGE when coming down, generally accomplished in
one hour.
Cumberland, in many particulars is attractive place.
1t stands the southern bank Of the Potomac andis partly
hemmed in with mountains, while the scenery lying the
westward is bold and imposing that to the eastward is sim
ply beautiful Its two principal hotels spacious and
comfortable, and its churches commodous and ornsmenal
the most picturesque being Gothic Episcopal church.
cuPyng the site Of Fort Cumberland Of ans-revoIuiona
fame. The inhabitants Of the town. who number up
wards Of six thousand, to be remarkably industrious
and enteprsDg class Of people, and reason why
they should not in time build up splendid city,
for the mountain country Of Maryland. Pennsyvana and
Virginia Its Of communication with the world are
polls Of the Union, eN d.-.s.- a>-;s.o.,
road connecting with Baltimore, tie third city Of the Union
and turnpike leading TO the waters flowing into the Mss-
spp besides number Of plank and other roads, making it
accessible the rich agricultural regions OF Pennsylvania
well the celebrated Springs Of Bedford in the same
State besides all which, the great railroad which con-
meet il with the Ohio u rapidly sdvancing,hry or forty
miles Of it being to be opened the 4th Of July next
But that which makes Cumberland busy place at the
present time, and will undoubtedly build up to considerable
opulence is the wealth Of the neghbosng country in coal
This coal region has been estimated an area of one
hundred and fifty square miles, Immediately in the heart of
the Allegheny mountains and the quality Of the mnealhas
been pronounced superior in many respects that found
any other mines east Of the Allegheny mountains The term
6rstra" has been applied 10 the Cumberland coal BY all
who have used it especially in regard its evaporave pow
and though called btuminous coal is in reality
dry and eloseburnng coal intermediate between the fat BIZ
luminous Of Pittsburgh and the anthracite Goals Of Eastern
Pennsylvania. The vertical depth of the Cumberland coal
ba.in including the peculiar the coal fomaon is
about fifteen hundred feet resting upon the milestone grit
The number Of distinct veins in the basin 6een and the
vary in thickness from Eve 6y feet many of them
exposed TO view the hsdes but particularly 10
the deep anes through which flow the various streams and
therefore easy Of to the miners who pursue their
operations atcompara,vsy little expense The coal brought
the shipping depots in Cumberland from the principal
Mines over two lines Of railroad, at expense Of about fifty
per ton, and is estimated that these roads are capable
of transporting and half millions Of tons per annum.
With regard to the richness Of the Cumberland coal REGION
may be mentioned that statistical gentlemen have estimated
that will more than supply the entire world for about forty
thousand gears, which should imagine quite long enough
for the present and two generations As to the
capital present employed in mining for COAL the most Of
comes from the capitalists Of New York. Boston, and Bal
and the principal companies doing business are
the New York Mining Company. Maryland Mining Compa-
ny, Allegheny Mining Company, Washngton Coal Company
Frossburg Coal Company, Mount Savage Iron Company,
Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company, Borden Mining
Company, Parker Mining Company, Cumberland Coal and
Iron Company, Whers Mining Company, and Asor Mining
Company. Speculation in coal lands has kept pace
with the legitimate business Of inng and, in spite Of the
mposons which have heretofore been pracised BY specu
tors the rage for this species Of business still continues and
many by impIudent hazards often become victims its folly
Heretofore the mineral treasures Of Cumberland have had
but one outlet to makehat furnished by the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad but since the completion Of the great
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal extending from Washington 10
Cumberland, with the Branch Canal to Alexandria far
extensive means Of transportation has gone into opera
on The entire length Of this canal is one hundred and
eighty miles, and running Does for the part,
directly along the northern bank Of the beautiful Potomac il
winds It's way through great variety Of interesting scenery
The canal number no less than Ave and the
culvers which passes hundred and seventy and
passes through tunnel third Of mile long. Boats
carrying hundred tons navigate with great ease and 1t is
supposed that boats Of hundred and thirty will find
difficulty in passing freely through all the locks. The
first series Of resolutions adopted in favor Of building this canal
passed by convention Of delegates held in Washing
ton in ls23-the members Of which, numbering
hundred from Virginia, Maryland Pennsylvania Ohio,
and the District Of Columbia The entire estimated
the Ohio river s32 OOo O0o and the real Cum
beand its present terminus has been about S6 OOO OO0
The ground broken the 4h Of July, 1928, and the
first spadeul of earth taken by the then President
Of the United States JoHS QuIScr ADAMS the
bis Cabinet and large Of spectators from the cities
and surrounding country. The speech made by the Pre-
sdent the occasion Of bis happsst efforts
appropriate and eloquent and is only to be found reported
believe in the columns Of the National Inegencer That
portion of the canal extending Alexandra was completed
during the year 1884, and it's important feature the
lofty aqueduc. spanning the Potomac at Georgetown,
mastery specimen Of engineering ability, and model piece
Of workmanship Its piers, am informed, ,hry-two
feet under water and IN this respect supases any other
work Of the kind in the world Col TuRssULL Of heT To-
biographical corps the engineer, who under immense
constructed this remarkable aqueduct
And with this paragraph bring the running account
Of my mountain from Winchester Cumberland to
Close Unforeseen circumstances have compelled me to ira
vel rapidly than could have DESIRED and have really
a.. :~I..x r.: