Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-03-30
Why "Cumberland" Coal!
FRosTBURG, MARCH 20, 1877:

The question has been asked us again
and again, and we have never been
able to give the information. We,
therefore, ask you to explain as fully
as you can, why the Coal taken from
Frostburg and Georges Greek (only
passing through Cumberland) is called
Cumberland Coal p y.
In reply to the inquiry Of our cor
respondent we may say in the outset
that the origin Of the term, "Cumber-
land" as applied to 1.-The Coal taken
from Frostburg and Georges Creek, "
was incidental, or, probably, occtdeatal.
A diversity of circumstances, doubt
less, contributed to this result, among
which we may note that of the contigu-
ity of Cumberland to the section Of
real production, making it then the
nearest outlet to market. To this
point it was wagoned, whence it was
shipped by hat-boat down the Potomac.
People living along the banks Of this
stream knew nothing of its production
beyond Cumberland, nor, probably, did
they care to know. That it was loaded
there, probably satisfied a generation
not so inquisitive as the present.
The simple circumstance of loading
not much in itself in this faster age,
was then suggestive enough to extort
from an honest peasantry the allitera-
tive pranomen and patronvmic, Cum
berland Coal"
Why it is not called "Frostburg
Coal, &C., is traceable to the fortui-
tous, but unfortunate circumstance Of
Cumberland's superior antiquity. The
history of the latter runs far down into
the last century, when, in compliment
to the Duke of Cumberland, of Eng
land, it was called Fort Cumberland"
when Washington was young "Vir-
ginia buckskin when Braddock made
it his "base Of operations against the
French and Indians, and long before
the United States, much less Frostburg,
etc, was contemplated.
The production Of coal had even COM
menced before this place was known.
Taken to Cumberland, it was, for years,
piled in large quantities along the river,
waiting for fresh" When the high
water came advantage was taken of the
better navigation thus afforded, and
the coal was shipped, not only to inter
mediate towns, but to the cities of the
lower Potomac.
Subsequently the Canal was built,
and finally the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and, prospectively, the Wes-
tern Maryland Railroad, all have,
and are aiming to make Cumberland
headquarters" for coal lading. This,
taken in connection with the notions
Of our ancestry, has made the term,
Cumberland Coal" famous, not only
in the marts of trade, but in the house
holds of thousands. The error trans
mitted by our fathers has grown into
second nature" now well-uigh ire
trievable. Many people, even public
journals, can see no further than Cum
berland for the immense deposits which
are being, with increasing energy, an
nually developed and sent to meet the
large and augmentiug demands of coal
consumers. An instance of this occurs
in the following item, quoted recently
by two Cumberland papers with entire
self-complaceucy:
1.-THE Washington Star of the 21st inst
says:---The Consolidation Coal Company
are in receipt of orders for coal from their
mines at Cumberland amounting to 10000
tons, which is twice as much as was ordered
up to this time last year"
Thus the delusiou is perpetuated by
those who know better, and who, be-
cause Of its immense significance, do
not care to remove it, Any special
effort made with reference to the cor
rection Of this great imposture, al this
late day, would almost certainly prove
futile, if, indeed, it is not idle to think
of it.
1t is more remarkable that broad
America should have had no better
luck. "Americus Vespucius, pickle,
dealer at Seville, went out, in 1899,
subalteru with Hojeda, and whose
highest naval rank was boatswains
mate in an expedition that never sailed.
managed to supplant Columbus, and
baptize half the world with his own
dishonest name"
So that we are not alone in being
kilt" As long as we get the benefit
of the trade, incident to the develop
ment of our coal resources, we must
bear with its false nomenclature.