The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-04-27
GARRETT COUNTY COAL.
A Glance atthe Early History and De-
veIopment of the Mineral IN
terests Of Garrett and
AIIa0anu GnuntiaS


| IN the editor OF The Republican.
The mineral interests, especially
that of coal, are of so much impor-
lance in the economic affairs of Gar
rett and Allegany counties that any
suggestions concerning their his
tory and development cannot fail
to be of some interest to the people
of the counties named. | propose,
therefore, after giving the subject
some thought and attention, to fur
nish some statements and facts
never before given, in regard to the
early opening of the coal mines in
Garrett county. The data has been
obtained with some difficulty and
labor, as there are no records or
print to resort to. Traditions and
recollections of aged people are the
oily source from which the infor-
nation could be gathered, but after
all, such are the chief elements of
history, especially when it is Of a
primary character, and the informa-
ton now to be given is certainly of
that character.
1t is but a little over one hun
dred years since "stone coal' was
discovered in this county. It's
first use was to supercede the use
of charcoal by the blacksmiths and
furnaces where iron was manufac-
tured. Charcoal was used entirely
by smiths and forgers and was ex-
pensive, though it served it's pur-
pose well. 1t is still in use in small
and delicate works where a high de-
gree of heat is required.
In the beginning "stone coal" was
not thought of for any other pur-
pose than already indicated. A
great amount of testing and ex-
perimenting was done before the
new element of heat could be util-
lied by the smith and iron manu-
facturer but after a considerable
while charcoal had to 60 and "stone
coal'' took its place. The former, as
we all know, is nothing but charred
wood burned into Goals by smother
ing fire from which the air was
excluded, so it is vegetable matter,
but biologists inform us that coal
itself is nothing more than vegeta-
BILE matter, the result of a prolonged
and tremendous pressure in its
prestine condition. However | do
not wish to run into the realms of
the sciences, even were ! fit. surely
/ am not.
COAL AS 4 FUEL.
At the time coal was discovered
and became useful for smitheries
and smelling iron ore. it was not
for moment supposed it was ca
pable of eyer being used for fuel
for heating houses. 1t was sup
posed it could not be burned with
out strong draft of cold air pro-
duced by artificial means. No
doubt there were many experiments
before it could be applied to heat
ing purposes. For such it was first
used in large open CRATES in the
bar-rooms in the hotels along the
National road. The large high
chimneys served to furnish the nee
essary draft to burn the coal, but
most of the heat necessarily escaped
through the great Threats of the
chimneys. Later coal was further
utilized by burning it in newly in
vented heaters called cannon stoves,
and still later the egg stoves.
These in their days were considered
great inventions and were,protected
by patent rights. Cook stoves,
though modern inventions, in the
beginning were intended exclusively
for wood fuel, but in time they too
had to yield to the aggressive coal.
These remarks APPLY all together to
the bituminous or soft coal. The
anthracite or hard coal OF Eastern
Pennsylvania, had still more diff
cnlties to encounter to become Il
utilizing agent. Many years
elapsed and fortunes were lost in
solving the problem. Its hard ma
tare seemed to be in the way of
combustion. Still it pressed its
way through all difficulties and now
has the lead in all the varities of
cosl except our Frostburg- George
Creek coal for steam purposes.
THE DISCOVERY OF COAL IN GAR
RETT AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES.
The chief purpose of this paper
is to show as nearly as possible
the time and places where coal
mines we're first opened in the two
counties named. Considerable in
vestigation has been made but the
exact dates cannot be ascertained,
but nearly enough for practicable
purposes. 1t is certain, however,
that the first coal opening was upon
what in late years has been known
as. the Brown farm upon which the
writer was born and reared to man