Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-03-31
fAk MINING JOURNAL.
YnOSTBURG, ND, .dARCH 81, 1877

announced its new schedule
Of coal freight rates, as follows:
From Cumberland
To Baltimore City Stations. 81 81
To Locust Point shipping wharves. 1.62
From Piedmont
To Baltimore City Stations. 80. 215 |
To Locust Point wharves ....... ! go |
From Nswburg-
To Baltimore City Stations. ....... 1882
To Locust Point wharves ........ s.63
From Paramount and C!arksburg-
To Baltimore City Stations. ....... 432
To Locust Psint whsrvss Az
No deduction made for Washington city.
These rates are per ton of2,OOO lbs,
equal to $l.8l per ton Of 2,24O Tbs,
from Cumberland to Locust Point
AZ cents less than was charged last
year. Our operators are now enabled
to place their coal in market at prices
60 near the Clearfeld standard that
the competition becomes grave mat
ter for that coal. Indeed, whatever
advantage Clearfeld may have already
gained this year, is due alone to the
absence of wages differences. The
price for mining was fixed; tho opera
tors enjoyed liberal freight rates and
the active cooperation otherwise Of
a great railroad company. So that
whatever has been taken from this
region is due to these favorable con-
ditions, and, at the best, does not
amount to much.
The prospects for good years work
il good. The reductions throughout
must amount to quite 80 cents per ton,
or contribution of $l,65O,O00OO to
a fund which, it is said, will be virtu-
ally applied to forwarding compsti-
ton with Clearfsld coal. At any rate,
now that the reductions have been &C.
complished, it seems the part Of wis.,
dom in all quarters to do the very best
the circumstances will allow. Let the
companies sell all the coal they can in
old and new markets; lot the miners
make and save all the money they can
for summer and winter living, and the
normal, comfortable, independent con-
ditions of our trade and labor will
have been established.
THOSE who think the establishment
Of the Georges Creek and Cumber-
land railroad will not be backed by
resources sufficient to make it q remu-
nsrative Investment, have not prob
ably thoroughly calculated, or COM
pretended the basis. If we take, for
instance, the Maryland company, the
largest canal shipper, with its 800
acres unwrought coal, we have, at TO-
OoO tons per acre, 100000 tons
This, divided by production Of 30O,-
90 tons per annum Cor 10000 tons
moro than it ever produced in one
year, will require nearly taoenty- seven
years to exhaust the Big Vein Of that
company. During this time its
freight bills, vaa the new road, will
amount to $2,430 900, or more than
three times the estimated original cost
Of road and equipment. This calcu
lation, it will be remembered. leaves
out Of view, not only what will come
from the American company 500
acres the New Central's 400 acres
the Georges Creeks l 800 acres-the
two former certainly, the last named
possibly, tributary to the new road
bn. all the coal area lying belo,o Lon
acoaing,
This summing up would seem to be
sufficiently conclusive, but if We in
elude the inevitable enhancement Of
these companies stock valuations, fol
lowing the .tact that the region has a
strong competing outlet. an apprecia-
citation will be realized which, of it.
self, will almost certainly re'uburse
their investment.
To those forgetfrl people who enter
tain the notion that he new road will
be dlsadvantageous to Frostburg, it is
necessary TO say that no permanent
benefit can be conferred upon this re-
gion in which we viii not share, if we
maintain even our existing enterprise.
We have much in cur situation which
coanmsp,Gs the held-which no move
ment can depreciate if We choose to
take care of ourselves.
TIE CORPORATE ELECTION takes
place next Monday. At this writing
We are not advised of more tickets
than the one announced Tuesday even
ing by the republican convention.