Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-07-05

l
O'Neill, who, it is lust to say, is one
of the few that take pride in shown :,
how the public money is spent that is
levied for his road. The day was
quite warm, butthat did not deter our
guide and host from showing all that
was to be seen. We found clean, Or
derby premises, nice build.nGs, mag
niacent paling fences around forty
acre fields, new, and bright with
white paint equipments of the latest
invention; we'll fed horses and strong,
industrious men, to do the work of
carrying ON the farm. Mr.. Combs
has studied the art Of economy to per-
lection, particularly the economy of
tine If plow-point breaks, or a
pound Of nails is wanted, there is no
riding to tbs store, etc, and so on.
All these things are amply provided,
and the repairing deferred to rainy
days. Fence builders, carp enters,
etc, are kept at hand, and all depart
ments Of labor go forward constantly
and Systematically.
The farm contains 730 acres of as
fine land as there is in the county.
1t was -sken up and settled nearly
one hundred years ago by Mr. Combs
grandfather, Jonathan Arnold Con-
temporary with him the adjoining
farms were settled by the Logsdons,
Mattinglya, Majers, Bancord and
Dean. That Of the last named is now
attached to the original Arnold farm
and, as before said, belongs to Mr..
Combs. All these families intermar-
led and their defendants comprise
probably the largest blood connection
in this county. Coming from what Is
now Carroll county, they were of the
best Of the old Maryland stock, and
their descendants perpetuate with
great pride the sturdy industry, hon
esty, and independence Of character
transmitted with the blood. One of
these distinguishing traits is strong
desire to hand the homestead in ineal
succession from generation to gener-
alton. So far this has been done with
out interruption, and it Is probable it
will be kept mp until the family indi
viduality is lost in the mazes of future
connections.
In quality if not in development,
the lands around are equal. From a
lofty point the beautiful and fertile
farms Of Henry 7. Weld, Joseph
Trim bic, James Pratt-the old home
stead Of James Rancord, are visible
on to the Pennsylvania line, all show
ing a fine state Of cultivation, far
above, indeed, ones conception of a
farming section IL these mountains.
So, of course, with regard to adjoining
farms or the other borders.
For seventeen years past IL. Peter
Kimmel has superintended Mr..
Combs farm. His long and accepta-
lie service for one SO methodical, pre-
else and correct as Mr.. Combs, is a
lasting tribute to his efficiency and
ability. This is further attested by
the condition Of things alluded to.
He is aided by an arniable, intelligent,
stirring wife, who manages the inter-
nal economies with scrupulous nicely
The dairy, supplied by strong cold
srring, is model of cleanliness and
convenience. Her cream and milk
are lnarvels Of richness, and we avail
ed ourselves Of the opportunity to
test them fully at the very elegant
dinner which she placed before US.
We shall likely dine there again.
1t is matter of historical interest
that TIE first supplies Of coal fur
nished tie Baltimore and Ohio rail
road locomotives from this region
wsre taken from this farm. This waa
was about l842-the year the road
was completed to Cumberland, and
the starting-point Of the record Of
coal shipments. It is interesting also
to observe that these supplies were
drawn from the six-foot vein, at a
time when the big vein was imper-
fectly known. We are informed by
those who profess to know that this
vein and the smaller ones underlic
this and adjoining farms; indeed, be-
yono this, they cover en- area far
exceeding the seventeen thousand
acres credited % it.e III 5iAaI Di5 yeln.
This statement is serviceable here
to show that while the presence Of
these veins is an element of the i'm
manee future yaluo of the tracta COW