Frostburg mining journal., 1883-06-16
STRANGER THAN FICTION.

received no END of conuempaIlon LOT
its stalwart advocacy of the Georges
Greek and Cumberland railroad. In
Frostbu1g, impressed with vague
notion that the project could do the
people no good, this was to be expect.
cd. But in Cumberland and Iona
coming, its direct benefciariss, there
existed an inhofpitabls if not hostile
feeling in many quarters toward the
intruder, and which, it may be feared,
found its way up to the judgment-seat
Of the court. The course Of its pro-
sjctors, not always judicious and fair
it must bs admitted, was contested in
the legislature, in the board Of public
works and elsewhere. So far and SO
bitter did antagonism extend that
many unthinkipg people looked upon
the progress Of the road as the uncoil-
ing of an iron anaconds, designed to
swallow some immense interest, none
could say what.
It IS needless to intimate whence
this insidious distillatisn of sympathy
for threatened monopoly and enmity
to railway competition proceeded.
The results involve current questions.
Shortly after the new road reached
the canal the tolls on coal tumblsd,
and passenger rates from Frostburg
were reduced. Some public benefit
was thus gained. But there is more
and now we enter field, part of
which is unexplorsd. The logic of
events, unlike other systems Of Sc
quencs. has = course of it's own. Last
year q difference arose as to wages for
mining. In the combination to effect
the reduction all the operators entered.
The quondsm antagonists in railway
contests appeared to coslssce. Each
had Won laurels and upon these they
reclined with ostensible gusto. For
leadership in the coming battle upon
another field against other odds there
was no rush Of preferred services.
Gensrslship was gracefully conceded
where it was nodestly sought. But
deep under the altar before which the
wbilom combatants pledged coalition
against sixty.fve cents per ton, sts., y
spark frsm the old torch lay buried,
a magazine Of revenge near by.
The fusion succeeded. Foresseing
the growing rivalry of other fields,
and unable to control any other than
their own monopoliss, the operators
won. Pity that the pungsnt argu-
msnts advanced for reduced wages
and heightened hours were forgotten
by the leaders of the compact when
the race for contracts began this
spring that our competing parallels,
the Chesapeake and Ohio on the south,
and Psnnsylvania railroad on the
north should have BEEN ignored just
at the supreme moment when the
fruits of last years triumph were ripe
for pluckingl Passing pity that the
fact was overlooked that the latter
road practically extends to the centre
Of this rsgisn
Now for the results Of this years
forgetfulnsss of last years facts. Th.
leading company Of the region, the
vanguard of last years "march 10 the
sea" of low wages, the one which fur.
nished tie sxemen and sappsrs, is
comparatively shorn of work. With
out contracts, some long enjoyed, its
own neck, last year 80 unbending, is
on the block under an axe uplifted by
on enemy in the corporate household.
1t is not strange that Clearfsld and
New river should bs unconsciously al
lied against us, but observation of the
fact tLat the little end of our own
region has its grinding heel upon the
big end, is a curious if not alarming
spectacle. For this year, it is feared,
this tragedy must 60 on, growing
worse as it proceeds.
For next year there is perhaps bet
ter fortune in store, to be developed,
however, only through the lesson now
taught. Outside rivalries must be
met by anti-monopoly rates of trans
portation, and inside destruction may
be, after all, game at which two can
play. 1t will not do 10 say that "the
coal, If not shipped. remains in the
ground" Such expressions are rem
nanis Of a policy exploded by the
overreac6ing slertneaa Of competition
"a sorry excuse for defeat in a field
where we enjoy several salient advan-
tagss. Our trunk railway and canal
can win for US next year-if they will.