Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-07
NUMBER ia.
The Coal and Iron Region.

| in many points of view II gives graphic nc.
count Of an excursion from Cumberland Maryland,
to the village Of Welersburg, in Pennsylvania, by
railroad. The route passes through one of the
Widest and most picturesque regions of either
State, and the writer has delineated II with mas
terly pencil Those who are interested in the coal
and iron mines Of these adjacent States will find
much In the letter to crafty their curiosity, and
something, perhaps to direct their speculations in
the stock companies formed to bring those useful
minerals into market
! CUMBERLAND, May 80, 1855.
| have advised you of the safe arrival m this
place OF the excursion party in their progress to
the mines Of the Union Coal and Iron Company,
and now have to report an exceedingly pleasant
day spent upon the company's grounds at Welers-
burg Somerset county, Pennsylvania.
We left Cumberland in special train at about
half-past eight o'clock, over the railroad of the
Mount Savage Company. This road, diverging
from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to the
North, passes through the gorge through which
runs Wills creek, the bold fronts of the mountain
on each side and the dark masses OF rugged rocks
which hang from its side forming landscape sell
dom exceeded in grandeur or beauty. "The Mar.
rows" as this locality is called, are famous, and
| well deserve the name, AZ they afford room only
for the railroad, the National Road, and the creek
Passing this gorge we soon leave the National
Road In its western course, ours being northerIy
and keeping company with the plank road which
runs from Cumberland to West Newton. Sever,
miles from Cumberland we reach Barrollsville,
where the new road built by the Union Coal aud
Iron Comp ny connects with the Mount Savage
road. Here we stopped to examine the admirable
bridge constructed by the former company. It's
| abutments and pier are of solid and substantial
| stone masonry, without any waste of means upon
ornament, but evidently built for use and endu-
rance. The structure above is of wood, well sup.
ported by iron rods and clamps
The company's road from this point follows the
course Of jennings run to Wellersburg, about
three miles. Reaching this place at IL O'clock,
we found the inhabitants, of all ages and botlr
| sexes, waiting to receive us. Ours was the first
| passenger car which had visited that region and
| the day was one to be remembered in the history
of Wellersburg The scene was an exceedingly
pretty one as we approached--the villagers scat
tered here and there in groups under the shade of
| the beautiful trees which ornament this valley.
Aud here cannot refrain from stopping to speak
OF the extreme beauty of the sugar maple trees
which are abundant in this neighborhood They
were a subject of general remark as we approached
the village and If some OF them could be trans
ferred without injury to some of our public squares
their value would be inestimabie.
Arrived upon the company's grounds, which in
clude part of the village of Wellersburg our
party, under the lead Of Mr.. Forward, the Presi
dent and Mr.. Stewart the efficient engineer of the
company, commenced an examination of the va
rious openings aud other improvements, the re.
suit Of the last ten months work. have not time
to go into detail, but must say, generally, that
these consist of six openings for coal and several
for iron ore, OF the necessary Tram roads to bring
the ore from the Mines theinclincd plane descending
from the hills to the level of the railroad in the val
ley and, besides these, a large and well-aranged
smelling furnace, now nearly completed and
hpuets for the workmen. The improvements seem
70 be Of very judicious character, and substan-
Q11l4 made. The coal and the iron, am told, are
Doth Of q superior quality one mine Of the former
being adapted TO the manufacture of gas.
am not geoiogist, and cannot speak know
ingly Of what Is beneath the surface of the ground
but what my eye saw above il / can appreciate
1t is however, beyond my art to dsscyibe tho
quise beauty of the prospect from ths hills above
Welersburg. The hills on the other side OF the
valley, diversified by wood and field, and farm and
house, with the dark outline Of the mountain In
the distance presented as fine panorama as ]
have ever looked upon. / confess that was uI
willing 70 turn from such landscape 10 burrow IN
the bowels Of the earth in search Of the invisible
Having been IN a coal mine before, was content
TO receive the report OF my more industrious com
panions, who assure me that the coal which they
discovered there was very black, and that some
times, in coming unwittngly in collision with it,
they found IL exceedingly hard.
After clamberng over these hills, with great
deal of energy and industry, for several hours you
may be assured that when two o'clock arrived, we
were ready for the abundant collation. which
prepared for us under the roof of the new furnace
and TO which we did ample justice. 1t went on
very pleasantly That we were sober party, il il
enough TO say that the affair was gotten up under
the direction Of our friend, Christian Keencr, tho
secretary Of the company.
Brief speeches were made by Colonel Ede, tho
member Of Congress from that district, by Mr..
Forward, Mr.. Stewart, and Mr.. Keener.
Alter the repast, by way of assisting digestion.
| the untiring Mr.. Stewart summoned us again 10
| the work Of examination in which We were
pied until five o'clock, when the steam whistle M.
nounced the hour of departure. Leaving Wellcrs.
burg with very pleasant recollcctons Of the ramble
over the picturesque hills, we returned over the
company's road to BarrolsviIle, where we took tn
track Of the Mount Savage railroad to visit the
extensive iron works Of that company. These
works were erected some years ago, at an expend-
ture Of nearly two millions of dollars. Failing TO
indemnify,the proprictors for so large an invest
ment, they have fallen into other hands at greatly
reduced cost. The rolling mill is the only part OF
the establishment now in operation, and 1t is Just
now occupied chiefly in making rails for the Balti.
more and Ohio Railroad. The process OF rolling
great Of heated iron into bars Is exceeding
/ ly interesting
| wish had time TO give you a sketch oft but
| we do everything in this region under command Of
the steam whistle which Is now ringing through
the mountains, and ] must move on. Leaving
i Mount Savage we reached Cumberland about
o'clock, fully prepared TO enjoy the good beds Of
the " 81. Nicholas Let me say a word in paren.
thesis Of the very kind and polite attentions Of the
proprietors Of this house, Messrs. II. p Dow &
Co., and Of their efficient assistant, Mr.. Boston,
formerly Of our own city, whose familiar face made
feelat once at home. The St. Nicholas Is furnished
in style seldom seen out of large cities and its n
bic abundantly supplied. commend it's good beds
to the weary traveller as a sovereign remedy for
| his exhaustion.
SO ended day which | am sure win be pleas
antly remembered by every one of our party.
Among us there were some whose venerable years
would seem TO have untitled them for such lsbori.
ous occupation; but saw no tagging In the par.
ty. Our elder companions went through the work
with an energy Of which the Youngest might not
be ashamed There must be something In this
mountain air which gives strength to the muscles
as well as zest TO the appetite.
- - A. Al. Al