Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-09-08
The Narrow Guaqe.

names the marrow guage. The edl-
torial commencing these projects IS
we'll written, straightforward and log
ical. The only fault, if any, is it
louId have been expended wholly on
tie narrow guage as the first, perma-
nent want. In the matter Of build
ing raill Dads, lone at time is
good motto these days, and we should
select first the outlet most needed.
If this had not been indicated already
every one would at once point to the
narrow guage as pre-eminently deslra-
BILE.
The arguments for the building OF
this road have been SO frequently gone
over that it is wearisome to repeat
them. Recent events. however, au-
thorize a reference to at least one
the interest of the canal in the pro-
Iceland what involves the canal
takes in very much Of Cumberland S
nearest and dearest.
1t is a mistake to suppose that the
power Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad was very much broken, or
that its historic avarice was diminish
ed, by I'll great strike along its lines
We WOOL prefer believing these en-
dowmen~3 lave been enlarged and
improyod ~ the effective aid obtain
ed to s1a,An its position toward IFS
reoaic-,r,,l,t operatives. 1t is not at
all likely, We say, that its policy to-
Waru lie canal and this coal field, will
be Chan ged-LoV even though Mr.
GarrottIs lac on the shelf. Mary
laDu products will be esteemed as
created specially for the a8grandize-
ment of the great corporation Just
as freely hereafter as now. This ap-
prehension Of the why ana wherefore
of our being is constitutional and
rami6es the organization fron begin
ming to end, rom top to bottom, and
radiates IRON The centre to al points
of the circumference. The smallest
stakeholder enjoys the fallacy as fond
ly as the largest, because Ae las learn
ed it from uudercurreut reports, more
credible and significant frequently
than those published for the benefit
of rival monopohes. The question Is
not-will this policy be changed p
but, rather-hoao can 1t be changed?
This view of the case argues con-
tinued danger to the canal and coal
region. As a State institution the ca
nal seems to own more and better pre-
cmptive rights here than the railroad,
while both are essential to cur we'll
2eing. In fact, it is not conducive 10
our industrial happiness that either
should gain ascendancy over the other.
But the latter owns and uses some
franchises which afford mastery III
exigent occasions-When the canal
drawing its trade from the same trib-
utary, is unable to meet certain ca
PRECIOUS exactions frequently imposed
upon its trade by It's rival. These
contingencies are to be avoided if we
would diminish the sources of inter
upton of work, and the first and best
remedy lies in an independent feeder
to the canal from this region.
This road completed and in run
ming order, how far would the canal
be at the mercy OF the &. & o. Il. R.?
Why not at all Had we the road this
year in all probability the boatmen
would not have struck, and the diff
Guilty on the railroad would have turn
ed the flu tide Of carriage into theil
hands, AM ;; ed the interruption OF
work here. Had we the road now,
with IL lroposed cheaper transporta
ton, tie u;sI."I would hold precisely
the Position it ought to occupy-a
who'll independent competing line
TINS woa." place it beyond the reacL
of. e~toe 'onate, grasplng, grinding
rivalry, " oulI enable it to meet the
railroad, not only along the lines, but
at tie nine would insure business
to Cumberland, benefit to the CON-
panles, far competition in market,
wages to tle miners, and, what is bet
ter, peace and satisfaction i'll Tie reg
ion. The field of strife IN all proba-
bility would be transferred from the
companies and men to the canal and
railroad-the one now equal to match
the other. Besides, we would have
\ the narrow guage company, with in
terests directly involved In coal pro-
duction, hol1.ng Tie balaace Of poUey,
and further able to divert its carriage