Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-12-09
The Cumberland Region.

makes the following interesting sum-
mary of the condition Of affairs in this
important district:
The coal season of 1876 is now draw
ing to a close, and the Cumberland
coal trade will show falling off Of
nearly half million of tons as COM
pared with 1874.
The cause of this is in a measure
due to the general depression of trade,
but far more to the fact that old war
prices are still paid here for mining,
and that the old war rates are still
charged by the Consolidation Coal Co.,
for transportation over their road,
which is the sole connection the coal
mines have with either the Baltimore
and Ohio, the Pennsylvania road, or
the canal.
These two things combined have
kept the figure at which the Cum
berland coal could be sold free on
board, in either Baltimore or George
town, so high as to place it not only
at positive disadvantage in the
market, as compared with the coal
from the Clearfield region (where
wiser heads held sway but largely to
divert the trade from Cumberland to
Clearfeld.
When the Baltimore and Ohio have
to charge one cent per ton per mile on
coal, in order fairly to compete with
other rival roads, it is clear that how
ever superior the coal may be, the
producer cannot afford on as long a
distance as twenty-six miles, to pay
three cents per ton per mile. to rival
coal company without, in such sea-
son of depression as the present one
finding the discrimination thus made
against them almost prohibitory.
The State of Maryland passed a
law at its last session to remedy this,
| and overcome the monopoly of the
Consolidation Co., but so far the law
has been evaded, and though the i'm
preston seems to be general that the
PRAYER of the American Coal Co., for
an injunction restraining the Consoli-
dation Co. from collecting these
charges beyond the legal limit will be
granted in the Court Of Appeals, where
it is to be argued as a test case on the
10Th of December coming yet it will
come far too late to help trade this
season.
But, for the healthy development
Of this coal field and its resources, a
far more radical and deep searching
remedy is required, and the coal com
panies Of Georges Creek must unite
heartily in one common cause, and for
one common purpose, if they wish to
make their coal interests prosperous.
and not trust to the long and dreary
pilgrimage of the law.
A narrow guage road has long been
spoken of to connect the coal mines on
Georges Creek with the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, and Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal, at Cumberland,
distance of about twenty-four miles.
A responsible and reliable engineer
has estimated that it can be built and
equipped for trade OF one million
of tons year, at cost considerably
below six hundred thousand dollars.
The Baltimore and Ohio now charges
one cent mile for transporta ton on
coal, and as it is undeniable that
short narrow guage roads are more
economical than the broad guages,
we may safely assume the cost not to
exceed one cent per ton per mile, and
with safety name it at even less,
therefore assuming
Road equipped for one million tons
TO co-t............. ........ SG00.0
"a miles at cent per ton o 90 tons $40, 600
III per cent interest to Stockholders. 10000
Improvements each year on Locomotives,
Rolling stock, Observation-Disclosures. 10000
Sinking fund for Investment each year to
repay capital at the end of 80 years. 10000
Annual cost...... ........ .......... $780, UO
Amount now paid TO Consolidation Co.
for transporting like amount % milesS7SO 900
and as the different connecting COM
panies would in using their road save
the cost Of working their inclined
planes, which now costs them about
four cents ton, the actual saving to
them may be called $47O,OOO, or
forty-seven cents a ton on one mil
lion tons of coal.
At the reduced 70 ties for transpor-
tation allowed by the law of the Leg
islature now in the courts the compa-
MES would pay $4,000, and only