Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-01
Cumberland Coal Trade.

last year, 1873, Is less by some ninety
seven thousand tons, with a daily de-
crease of the difference, but not such
a decrease that possibly the total of
the year will equal that Of last. The
year 1874 accordingly, marks an era
in the history Of the Cumberland coal
trade, receiving, after annually in
creasing with we'll defined ratio, its
first backset. At present, however,
the trade is remarkably brisk, and
everything looks in a most hourishing
condition.
The Consolidation Coal Company,
for the week ending Saturday, July
18th, shipped II ,443. OF tons; and for
the week ending July 18th, for a
single mine, their Ocean No. 3, they
shipped over 10000 tons-an unpre-
cedented amount, the highest amount
ever attained before being 1900 tons.
This company in one of their mines
employ two locomotives instead Of the
time honored dingy mules, and report
the ventilation of the mine none the
less impaired thereby, and that they
give satisfaction in every way-wlth-
out any intended disparagement to
the mules, however.
The Georges Creek Coal and Iron
Company are doing well, shipping dur
ing the week ending July 18th, $751;
OF tons. This company opened new
mine last year.
The New Central Company have
recently opened a new mine on the
Koontz, farm one and threefourths
miles about from their dump-house
at Homecoming. On the narrow gauge
road connecting, they propose to run
a ligh Int locomotive. For the week
ending July 18th, this company shipp-
ed 7,385.O9 tons.
The American Coal Company, for
the week indicated, shipped 6,6ll.l2
tons; the Hampshire and Baltimore
Company, 3,281,24; the Franklin
Coal Company, 2,47004, and the
Georges Creek Mining Company, said
to be operated by the same parties as
the Franklin, l,S22.06; the Potomac
Coal Company 1,7400O; the Pied
mont Coal and Iron Company, 902 IS;
the Swanton Mining Company, 1,475.-
TO- the Blaen Avon Coal Company,
l,l63. 10; the New Reading Coal Com
pany, 242.00; the Atlantic and
Georges Creek Coal Company,
2,130.03; the Maryland Coal Company
9,205.l7 and the Borden Mining Com
pany, 1852. l6-making a grand total
from the Cumberland region for the
week of LII, 32S.07 tons.
The Borden Mining Company, whose
shaft was destroyed by fire in April,
1878, rebuilt Immediately, furnished
their works with elaborate machinery
built by G. w. Snyder, of Pottsville,
and are now doing very well.
The Atlantic and Georges Creek
Coal Company have recently built a
narrow gauge road about one mile in
length from the top of the Great Say
age Mountain to their dumphouse,
and furnished it with locomotive,
increasing their facilities at least if
not also their capacity.
And with respect to the proposed
narrow-gauge gravity road all the
way from Cumberland, via Pompey
Smash and Hoffman Hollow, to Iona
coming, nothing more now can be said
than that it hangs fire: Somebody is
wanted and badly to buy the charter
and the glorious privileges of paying
all the expenses of running up the
mountain side, furnishing stationary
engines, locomotives, cars, &c.-some-
body, who, while he sees it looks well
on paper, can put his hand into
long weasel-skin, and pull out the
last dollar to make it look as we'll on
the mountain side. The project has
not yet gone beyond the embryonic
paper stage.
A few words now about the iron
cars used in the Cumberland coal re-
gion-a suggestion to those who per-
sist in using wooden cars, as is done
throughout Western Pennsylvania.
An iron car, made of boiler iron, with
q capacity OF ten-and-a-half tons,
weighs but 10000 pounds, while the
wooden car Of like capacity will
weigh l7,500-a difference so great,
that While 90 loaded iron cars make
up train on the Cumberland & Penn
sylvania Railroad, 20 loaded wooden
cars make up one of equal weight,
The iron cars stand the wear and tear
of usage better than the wooden,
come ont of wreck battered and
bent but readily Strengthened out as
we'll as new, where wooden ones would
be shivered to pieces and burnt, and
the bolts and bars carried away in a
basket. And moreover there is about
800 in favor of the iron car over the
wooden when their first cost is consid-
cred. The Consolidation Coal Com
pany have iron cars now in use which
have been on the road for sixteen
years and over.
The Cumberland & Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, by-the-bye, is a
model in its way, and with record
such as a few companies can boast of
to-day. During the panic and since,
it moved along as if there was no fur
ry in the financial world at all, pay
o,J