Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-05-02

1926, 100, 90
Reduction by sinking fund during the
year lS'3..... ....... ...,......... "3otu'Vu
Total debt January /, 1s74.... .$3,ls3,1O0.Go
OF THE MINING DEPARTMENT.
There were mined and delivered from Il e
company's property in 1878, 54S ,4S4 tons :;
1872. 504 1872 tons, showing an increase of
A, 352 tons
The sales for the year would duubtlc SIS
have been greater but for the financial panic
which occurred in September last, thus al
fcctng the business during the best months
of the year The falling of was more cspe
ciallv felt in the man utaCturing interest,
though the demand for steamship and rail
road service was to a certain extent at
fccted by the extraordinary crisis. Not
only was the consumption diminished, but
the price of all classes of coal throughout
the country was for a time reduced.
The policy of the Board has been to pro-
coed with the steady improvement of the
mining property and the enlargement of
It's capacity in order to keep pace with the
growing demand for Cumberland coal An
important improvement suggested in the
last annual rcport-viz., the substitution OF
locomotive for horsepower at the Hoffman
and Astor mincs-has been fully carried
miles of the Cumberland branch, which
was made up of very heavy gradients and
sharp curves The small locomotive called
the Ant now trayerscs IA suhterrancan
passage of two and a half miles, hauling
from sixty to eighty tons of coal in its train.
The promised saving by this Improvement
has been fully realized. Two OF Our most
valuable mines are worked with these small
locomotives and in both instances with
economical results.
4 new mine has been opened during the
wear, which will, from this time forth, fur
nish its proportionatc supply of coal. Some
of the other mines have been enlarged and
it is safe to state that for the year 1874 the
Consolidation Companys mines will have
a capacity of 5000 tons per day
There will be no large or extraordinary
cXprnsc required in the mining department
during the coming year. In order, howev-
cr, to secure and retain good miners (mcn of
familv.) it will be necessary to erect fifteen
or twenty small trncmcnts at one Of our
principal mines. the total cost of which will
| be from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars
As these houses will weld a fair return in
rcut, the company will be fully reimbursed
in interest on the outlay. BY furnishing
| such tencmcnts, skilled miners are secured
who become permanent residents of the re-
gion, while their sons as they grow up, be-
come the faithful employees of the compa
ny which has given steady work and com
| Portable homes to their parents.
THE RAILROAD.
! The number of miles owned and worket
by the Consolidation Coal Co. is as follows
Cumberland and PENNSYLVANIA Railroad
and branches to various mines, IS miles
| Ec!lhart or Cumberland Division II miles
| Branch to Pennsylvania State Line, 3 miles
total, 50 miles.
The tonnage of the Cumberland ant
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad in 1873, was 2,243,
90 tons; in 1872, $50, Cos ions increase
353, 054 tons.
Tonnage of the Eckhart or Cumherlan,
Division in 1873 was 22G, i1} tons in 1872
229, 6S1 tons decrease. 3.2i4 tons.
During the year there were placed in thu
main road of steel rails, 80 tons, and in thu
branches and main line ofiron rails 1877 tons
The ba!lasting has also been renewed ant
increased.
The policy of the board, as suggested il
the late annual report, has been to procec,
in rclaying the main road tower which sucl
a heavy traffic passes with steel rails, rs it
business and condition should require. Til,
work done in this way during the past ycal
as well as draining and blasting, has mucl
improved the road, and, though the tonag
has been largely increased, it remains at tn
close Of the year in far better condition
than twelve months previously. The test
monv of all customers is that their bushes
has been done with regularity and dispatch
BY pursuing the same policy, the mali
line will at the end Of the year 1870 b.
completely laid with steel, when the ne
profits will be increased by the saving j!
wear and tear of rails and rolling stock.
In anticipation of the increased tonnage
two powerful LOGON tivcs were purchased
last spring. In our own shops, twCaty-on
new iron coal cars We're buit, and ten Plat
form cars reconstructed. Seine VALUABLE
machinery was also added to the company
shops These items, amounting to 500 SOC
have been charged to the expenses of Til
year 1t will not be necessary, even Will
Z considerable increase of tonnage, TO adj,
to tue locomot YES for the coming year, bu
a few additional! cars may be required.
The fleet OF caual boats belonging to tn
company, and plying upon the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, has been kept in goo,
condition, and has yielded fair return t,
the company
In regard TO the extent of business 70
the coming year, it is not wise to max
predictions The effects of the pane ar
passing away, manufactures Of varou
kinds are being gradually resumed, and tn
supply of the deficiency caused 10y partia
suspension OF business for several month
will probably call for a considerable guam
titY Of our coal in this branch of trade upol
the opening Of navigation, while TIE de
mand for steamship and railroad purpose
must increase with the growth of our for
cign and inland commerce. 1t is the Opin
ion of dealers in anthractCs that the price
of that class of coal will be, at least, cqua
to those OF 1873, which will tend t.
strengthen and uphold the price of Cum
bcrland coal. The expenses of the compa
ny, as compared with last year (when lagS
OUTLAWS for improvements were made, vii
be considerably reduced.
During the coming year the board vii
consider the propricly of establishing a II
tail department fer Tie supply Of New orl
and Brooklyn. All the great anthracite
companies have adopted such course will
profitable results.
In this great city there are many person
Of health, or TIE pleasure of cheerful fire
burn hltuminOus coal i'll their dwellings AM
offices. Englsh camel costs S25 per ton
, and Pennsylvania and Virginia Goals 81
per ton. Cumberland lump and strccnc,
coal may be furnished Carriage includeCD n
| SIN NOR ton ti,n fine az small ,.nnl h.;,,