Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-09-30
LEGANY COUNTY, MARYLAND, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER

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ing year, 1882, when the Opposing
Line, and the Good Intent Line were
established the latter by Messrs. AL
pheus Beall and Mr.. Wirtz.
These lines had the field to them
selves until about 1910, when Mr..
Resides went again into the business
by establishing the June Bug Line.
In l842 the Landlords Line was
put ON the road, with Messrs. Samuel
Luman, Joseph Dilley (both Of Cum
berland,) VIM. Willis and several
others as proprietors. John w.
Weaver was the agent at this point.
The line extended from Cumberland
to Wheeling, over the National, or as
it was called then, the Henry Clay
road.
In 1912 the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad was completed to this point,
in consequence Of which the stage
coach business was somewhat injured
between here and Baltimore.
In 1852 the lines began lessening
their facilities, and soon there was no
connection by stage with any cities,
though stages were sent to neighbor-
ing towns, both for the purpose of
carrying the United States mail and
passengers, and until about four years
ago they were not entirely suspended.
But now probably the last of the
old line coaches that remain to re-
mind us of the palmy days when
coaching was in the zenith of its glory
stands mouldering in one Of the livery
stable yards of this place Three
years ago it was brought out by sew
eral young men and run between the
city and tho fair grounds, at the time
of the exhibition that year. Dingy,
musty, shakey Its ancient symme-
try, beauty and strength could just
be seen beneath the hand of Time,
and in its creaking and groaning, as
it went tottering through the street,
it tseemed to say II was of ancient
splendor, but am nought."
1t is true, however, that the mails
are carried to and from Flintstone by
hack, twice week, but that has moth
ing to do with the old lines.
The cause Of suspension of coaching
on the public highways in this portion
of the country, was, as is known to
everyone, the introduction of rail
ways. When one found that he
could travel from Cumberland to
Baltimore by rail he never went by
coach; and so, when he found that he
could reach Wheeling by the same
means, he always went by it.
From mass of particulars in re-
gard to these old lines a few are
given below.
Two coaches were sent regularly
each day from Cumberland by each
company, and as many arrived here.
After the completion of the Nation
al pike between here and Baltimore
the Old War road was abandoned for
it, and as the pike was made West of
here the coaches followed it up. Be-
fore the present road to Bedford was
made, the road that led in that direc-
tion took its course over Shriver's
hill. Traces of this road are yet visi-
BILE on the hillside at the head of Bed
ford street. ..... ..
Another road led through wild
dismal country to Petersburg, Va,
and the drivers and passengers on the
coaches were often startled in the
night time by the bowling of wolves
and crying panthers.
Regular communication by coaches
was kept up with Somerset, Union
town and Pittsburg, and at Union
town coach factory was operated
many years.
The principal Offices of the stage
companies were in Baltimere, Fred
erick, Hagerstown, Gu ..berland and
Wheeling. The Offices here were at
the National Hotel, corner Mechanic
and Baltimore street; and later at the
Barnum House (now Weir's Hotel
and the United States Hotel (now st.
Nicholas.) ~
The stables of the Good Intent were:
situated on the east side of Centre,
street short distance north of where
Harrison street now is and just below
there Mr.. Thomas Shriver carried on
the business of coach making in
large factory that he had erected. He
furnished the Good Intent Company
with all of their coaches; the other