Frostburg mining journal., 1883-07-14

| did you not reccgaize the commands
of your judgment and leave the
worm out scenes of your lsbors while
you had something to 30 with ?
However, it is neither my province
nor my right to lecture those older in
knowledge and years than myself, but
it is hard to keep it back, viewing it
as l have for so long.
| I am personally acquainted with
the vice-president and general mana
ger of one of the few coal companies
doing business here. He informs me
his business is rapidly increasing and
every man thus far who has asked for
work has been favored. He pays 65
cents per ton and two men, one OF
whom never was in a mine before, got
out over twelve tons in ten hours.
The coal, however, is not No. l, and
is hardly fit for shipping purposes, as
it won't stand the weather; but the
company propose obviating that by
using compress which one Of them
went to Germany to purchase and
which will be here econ. From what
I have heard of it l believe it will
accomplish the purpose for which it is
intended; if it does the Rockdale
mines will boom. They work small
force now-abcut twenty men, but
have wide field to develop, and can,
should it be required, in very short
time arrange it so as to work any
number of men they wish.
Down on the Pecos river, in the
southwestern part of the State, there
are mines of pretty fair coal and the
miners make big money, but they
soon tire of the wild, rough, uncouth
element which inhabits the borders of
civilization everywhere. OF course,
that is a long way from here and a
very thinly settled section.
AS my letter is assuming greater
proportions than had ut first intend
ed I'll wind it up with few remarks
concerning the capital city Of what is
destined, on account Of its vast e1-
tent of territory and unbounded min
eral resources, to become one of, if not
the greatest, States Of the Union-a
republic in itself. Ia fact, it is near
ly that now in sentiment, for you
rarely ever hear any speak as though
there was higher authority than the
Governor Austin, like Rome, is
built ON seven hills, Cat least the peo-
pie say seven I believe there are
nearer seventeen and although she
does not, like the ancient city, "from
her throne Of beauty rule the world >
she governs much more extensive
empire than does Rome at the present
day or ever will again. The summer
lasts from March until December, and
many winters have passed away with
scarcely frost to denote the change of
season. 1t is as if the time had ar
rived when 1--WE shall know not the
summer from the winter except by
the falling of the leaves" The buai-
nezs of the city is nearly all done on
two streets-Congress avenue and
Pecan street-which intersect each
other at right angles in the central,
business part of the place. The
avenue is very fine drive, wide,
roomy and always alive with all kinds
of vehicles from the OK teams poking
lazily along to the fine, dsshing equip
ages of our aristocratic citizens. New
buildings are seen springiug up in all
directions, aome of them fine struc-
lures and credit to the capital Of
the Lone Star S ate. The immense
State capitol, which, when completed,
will, 1 believe, be the third finest
building (ior the purpose for which it
is intended) in the United States.
The Holly system of water works
has recently been put in here, max
ing with the very efficient fire depart
ment an almost sure defense against
large fires.
In fact, the prospects for the devel'
opn.ent of the city in the near future
are as good as any ia the South. The
malarial diseases, which to a certain
extent prevail in this part CT the
country, never make their appearance
here, so healthy is the locality. The
yellow fever has never yet reached
this place. The people are rather
shy of strangers for awhile, the re-
suit of sad experience, no doubt, but
after they find you out they are as
friendly and hospitable as any ever