Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-06-28
The Cumberland Coal Field and
the Georges Creek and Cum
berland Railroad.

DeFlanQ hallrOa0.
We are advised that the contract
has been let out for building and
equipping the Georges Creek and Cum
berland railroad. This work, v'e sra
ned, 81 ,e vigorous prosaqn-
.sa. aud /. Is a.>py,taa ha. .o.ore the
end Of the year some of the Cumber-
land coal mining companies, with
very large capacity, will have three
outlets to market, whereas they
have but one now. At the present
time, these companies are paying 2
cents per ton per mile on coal carried
distance of about &c miles, and the
company carrying the coal is report
ed to have made last year III per
cent. on a capital from four to five
times as great as the estimated cost
of the new line. The distance from
Homecoming to Cumberland, by the
Georges Greek and Cumberland rail
road, is about 20 miles, and it is con-
ceded that a charge of II cents, per
ton per mile will pay very good div
idend on the investment, and make
saving to the shippers of % cents per
per ton. As these mining companies
have capacities ranging from three
hundred thousand to five hundred
thousand tons per annum, the great
importancs of the enterprise will be
observed. Of the companies that will
benefit by this road, the Maryland
coal company whose stock is frequent
ly dealt in the open market. 1t is
selling at about $l4 per share, or
100000 for the whole property.
This company can produce 100000
tons per annum, and the saving of
freight alone would be equal to over
l8 per cent. per annum on the present
price ofstock. The completion of this
road will enable shippers by it to
obtain very low maximum rate of
toll on the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
until 1904. Further economies can
be brought about by the more general
adoption of steam canal boats. A
dozen of these are now in use, and prac-
tical:y demonstrate their success and
economy. Through the untiring ener-
gy Of Mr.. Henry Loveridge, the prca.-
dent of the Maryland coal company,
the control of the Pennsylvania railroad
in Maryland has been secured without
any cost to him, and said control has
beeo donated to the Georges Greek
and Cumberland railroad company
The Pennsylvania railroad in Mary and
will connect with the Pensylvania
system Of railroads and give Cumber-
land coal an additional outlet at Phila-
'elrhia, South Amboy, and Bo'''r1ors
I4.s oad vii 20 complet Al :, fen,
u.,.. .e.o3-.c-. y, Cumberland
coal business has been under the con-
troll of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road company, which, rather than en-
corage it, has been using about SOO
its coal hopper" in the grain trade
receiving rates only about one fourth
as great as charged on coal. Upon
the completion OF the projected roads
the business can be very much enlarged
and there will be three competing
lines to market namely, the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, and the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal. There are other adj
vantages to this enterprise which We
hope to enlarge upon at later day.
We congratulate the citizens Of Cum
berland and the stockholders of the
coal companies in that region on the
prospect Of the completion of these
roads. When they are an accom-
plished fact, the Cumberland compan-
les will have commercial advantages
which, if utilized, will put them in a
position equaled only by few instan-
ces in the world.-Emgsneering and
Manirg Journal.