Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-01-12
A TEXT AND CoMMENTARY.-The
Cumberland IdeDeudent of last Sat-

the maryland coal company announcer
carload of coal for the poor of this city,
making two cars donated by that COM
pany; one from the American compa-
ny, and notice from the Con solidation
company that they would furnish two
cars in day or two. Clerk Resley has
distributed eighty half loads, aggrega-
ting forty tons. He has looked into
each case and satisfied himself that the
charity was well bestowed.
These are instances Of charity, the
face value of which, it is to be feared,
is subject to depreciation. Coal, dis
tributed to the Cumberland poor,
leaving our own needy ones Sin the
cold," is a kindness of doubtful viz
tue. Why overlook the unfortunate
and INDECENT at home-some diseased
and broken down from the exposure
incident to a chilling avocation, and
others widowed and orphaned by the
sad fatalities of underground work !:
Almsgiving is blessed, but why pre-
fer the acclamations of strangers to
the benedictions of suffering neigh
bors? Why answer the distant APP
peal, leaving the nearer cry unheard,
or unconsidered?
Is this charity at all Can the be-
nefcent eye, contemplating no par
TALLY, see no want but that which
exists beyond the hill-tops? Can the
benevolent heart forget that ''the
poor ye have always sciM you y
Why, gentlemen, these, your SER
wants, whose labor has mainly ena-
bled you to become benefactors, some
of whom, stricken by want, no matter
when Or why, are members Of your
business families, and we all know
what is said of such as scare not for
their own household"
Read the 18th chapter of LIST Cor
inthians; look into the coal-bins Of
those who have toiled, and may have
died in your employment then if you
would "cast more bread upon the
waters" establish your depot of sup
ply and espionage over the impover-
ished coal-houses of Cumberland-do
SO to the utmost extent Of your abil-
ity, and all will with one accord "rise
and call you blessed" not waiting for
the day of Judgment to award the
most thrilling pecan set down i'll SYM
phonic prophecy.
The Cumberland Ne,vs and its Ha-
gerstown namesake have been telling
each other how their respective mu-
inequalities are staggering up the hill
of progress. The advantages appear
to lie with Cumberland under the
tegis of bonded debt, while Hagers-
town enjoys comparatively no such
protection. Here in Frostburg, with
a floating liability Of less than one
fourth of that which rests upon Ha-
gerstown, and with Il yearly income
of nearly $4,000, we can afford Il day
policeman, when we do not so much
need one, but none at night when we
do. A watchful eye, when all others
are closed in sleep, is a want deeply
felt, so much so that many Of the
larger taxpayers are wholly dissatis-
fed with the use otherwise made of
their money. This has led to the
circulation Of the following memorial:
To tile Honorable, the Geae,m -4SsemJiy Of
Maryland:
Whereas, By Act of Assembly. passed
at the January Session, 1870, Chapter
n, incorporating the Town of Frost
bug, in Allegany county, it is provi
ded in Section Is of said Act that the
annual levy for corporate purposes
shall not exceed 80 cents on every one
hundred dollars worth of assessable
property within said town, and
Whereas, Said rate is deemed excess
i've for all lawful purposes and liable
to abuse and to the great detriment
and injury of the taxpayers of said
town, therefore
The undersigned petitioners, citizens
and taxpayers of said town, respectful
ly pray youl Honorable Body to amend
said Section Is of said Act SO as to
reduce the existing maximum rate of
so cents to % cents upon each and
every one hundred dollars worth of
assessable property in said town.
And, as in duty bound, etc.
The moral of this lesson appears to
be that the town should incur bond
ed debt, say for the provision of a new
water supply, or buildinga branch to
the new railroad, or both. With an
obligation of fair dimensions to care
for, the basis upon which it will rest
% he L.