Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-10-19
MINING JOU RNAL.
j. II. ODER, Editor.
FRoSTBURG, MD, OCTOBER 10, 1872.

The recent visit of Mr. W. H.
Brown, Superintendent Of the Bed
ford Division of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, President KNIGHT, of the
Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad
and other officials Of the roads named
10 Mr. c. SLACK, Superintendent OF
he Cumberland and Pennsylvania
Railroad and the subsequent excur-
sion over the latter road to Lonacon-
ing, with other incidental circum
stances, is suggestive of deep inter
est in our region, felt by these corpo-
rations. This, however, is not the
first manifestation of this interest.
The inception and building of the
Bridgeport extension, at great cost,
first evinced the cause of advance in
Ihis direction.
That the primary object is to share
our immense coal-carrying trade is
beyond doubt to conjecture further
is probably not within our province
These companies may secure all they
are able to buy; it only concerns us
to ascertain whether their movements
will likely result to the material ad-
vantage Of this section.
That the primary object, as stated,
will very largely augment the pro-
duction Of coal we all know full we'll
This will be done by the opening
to us of new markets, by shortening
the carriage to old ones and reduc-
ing the transfers simply to loading at
the mines and unloading at the des-
tination, whether it be Philadelphia,
New York or other important points
This will be a two-fold advantage to
the companies, and, through them, to
the miners. 1t will enable them to
place their coal in better bulk, with
cheaper freights, at the very spots
where they most desire to challenge
competition. 1t will relieve all of a
long standing monopoly of our carry
ing-trade-one which has extorted
probably more Of the profits of the coal
trade than has been realized by all
the owners of the coal mines together,
This alone will be a great advantage
sained-the opportunity to choose the
cheaper and better route Of transport.
The time has come when this arrogant
levy upon our revenue should cease
when the incubus Of necessity should
be lifted from the shoulders of our
principal industry.
1t is true, the cost Of equipment
for the purposes indicated by the
corporations named will be immense,
probably reaching millions of dollars,
but the steps already taken are an
unmistakabie assurance that they
"mean business" and will leave no
stone unturned to accomplish their
design. They have by no means
taken a short-si5 htel view of this work
that it is expected to pay is evinced
In their energy. We cannot reasona-
bly, ascribe their gigantic effort to
share our immense carrying trade to
spite of great rival corporation.
Generally spites do not pay, In this
case, spite or not, or pay or not, the
expenditure made guarantees the
fact that as far as human sagaclty
reaches. the. Pennsylvania Railroad
Company sees the elements of large
remuneration in the opening Of COM
munication with our coal fields.
Now, in all this there is duty
resting upon our people, particularly
those of Frostburg, to encourage all
movements tending to increased de-
velopment Of our mineral resources.
As yet it cannot be specified what
should be done, but we can prepare
for a very liberal encouragement Of
an enterprise so promising of advant-
age to us. We should be ready to
respond literally to every PROPOSE
ton to add population, buildings, val
ne and Importance to the town. Our
location is q natural railroad head
quarters. From here it is down grade
all directions-the best starting-point
in the coal regions. We think we may
safely expect this point to be selected
for some prominent railroad purpose,
and we ought to invite it by some prac-
teal movement.
A TURNING PoINT IN ENGLISH