The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-12-31
Cumberland, Md, and Its Surroundings.


of its principal features, and had also an
opportunity of gathering some of its early
history which may possibly be of interest
to some of the inhabitants of Cecil, but
few of whom have ever had an opportunity
of becoming acquainted with the geography
of their native State.
Cumberland is the capitol of Allegheny
county, and is situated on the north branch
of the Patomac, that is here not larger than
the Octararo creek. 1t is the western
terminus of the Chesapeake Il Ohio Canal,
and is connected with the coal region by
three railroads.
The land on which the town is built and
all the good land above and below for 20
miles or more, was originally located by 4
man named Cresap, who was one OF the
first settlers in this region.
The name of Capt. Cresap, is connected
with many of the early incidents of history
of this and the adjoining county of Fayette,
in Pa. n mountain now bears his name
and it has also been handed down by history
as connected with the murder of the family
of the Indian Chief. Logan, whom Campbell
has made to speak, though under another
name, in his Gertrude of Wyoming. Some
of the decendents of this man have still a
ground rent on property about Cumberland.
The National Road that was for a long
time the only route to the Ohio from Balti-
more runs through the town. Part of the
road near here was cut by Gen. Braddock
at the time of his expedition against the
French and Indians, in the year 1915.
Fort Cumberland, en- Wills creek, was a
trading port of some note at that time, and
it has continued to be centre of trade ever
since.
The natural CONFORMATION of the land
had pointed this out as the spot for town.
The river below and above is shut in by
high, rocky hills, but here the different
ridges converge towards a common centre
with fertile valleys running up between,
that furnish the natural facilities for loads
and railroads.
The view from the top of one of these
hills that rise 600 feet or more on all sides
of the town is very interesting. You then
have everything spread out like map at
your feet. One called Shriver's hill is of
an old sandstone formation, and has been
cultivated sometime, and is now growing
white clover to the summit, though it is
too steep for anything but goats to pasture
with safety.
On the opposite side of Wills creek is a
mountain of hydraulic cement rock, that is
now being manufactured into Cumberland
cement. The rock is in strata of different
qualities mixed with the worthless stone.
We we're shown some specimens that make
a cement that will set in one minute, others
do not harden so quickly, and these various
qualities have to be mixed in the right pro-
portion to produce the best article.
Cumberland did not suffer much from
the war; though it vas used as a place of
rendezvous for the Union soldiers, and was
subject to such continual alarms from its
nj. nd tIa
armies, that real estate was Of very uncer-
tain value for a long time. A body of
Rebel cavalry once visited the town, but
were frightened into 4 percipitate retreat
by one cunning citizen. Since the war the
town has been improving rapidly, and they
are now engaged In laying dawn pipes and
constructing public water works.
The water of the surrounding country is
hard, or not very good, and they now pro-
pose to supply the city with water from Il
well sunk in the sand at the junction of the
two streams that flow through the town,
and thus get a supply of this indispensable
article nearly pure. Cisterns have hereto
fore been the best recourse.
The town authorities have recently pur-
chased tract Of land to the east of the
place and presented it to the BALTIC. Il Ohio
Railroad as site for a mill to manufacture
railroad iron. This mill was approaching
completion at the time of our visit. and
will no doubt add much to the business of
the city. It requires large quantity of
water to run their machinery. and they
then had a temporary engine connected
with the city mains to supply them.
We had the pleasure of seeing the first
bar of iron put through the rolls, which
event may mark an era in the industries of
Cumberland. You may recollect that at
the ceremony of breaking ground for the
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, at which Presi-
dent j. @. Adams officiated, the first effort
struck a root with his spade, when lie
pulled off his coat and went at it in earnest.
So hers the first ball of the red hot metal
fell to the floor 1T The first attempt to put
it in the squeeZers, as it Is called, but they
pick it up again on their ''buggy." and
now in it goes. We have seen iron works
before, but this squeezing machine was
new to u.s. taking in the large ball as it
comes from the pudding furnace and roll
ing it around and bringing it out ready for
the rolls, taking the place Of the tilt or
steam hammer. Alter little practice the
whole machinery works with the regularity
of Il clock.
1t is the intention of the Railroad Co to
manufacture steel rails to replace those
t:tN Ill are AptCicu W
turn out &c tons day, which is about the
rate required to replaces tie wtin o;,t ones.
On this railroad the iron has to be renewed
very often, and Oh the most crooked parts
it will not last six months with the amount
of heavy freigh now passing over it. These
works extending over several acres of
ground with this pondcrouS machinery and
powerful engines, are a standing monument
to the enterprise and ability of the men Of
this 10Th century,
AS we stood here in the midst of these
honest sons of labor, in sight of these Won
derful contrivances for manufacturing the
useless ore into shape to conduce to the
comfort and happiness of man we are
reminded Of the saying, peace hath her
victories no less renowned than war;
Cumberland contains many smaller fac
tories, mills, &c, and has some very sub
stantial church buildings. The Catholics
have two very large edifices and very
commodious school house and Nunnery near
one of them. The Episcopal Church is built
i'll All ancient style of architecture of the
rough sandstone, over which ivy is being
trained, giving it quite an antiquated old
English appearance. The Methodists still
retain their plain, old houses, and their
people their good old ways. and are as
hospitable people as any we have met.
and they as well as those of all other
denominations, deserve q share of that
worldly prosperity that seems in store for
them.
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