Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-09-23

A more delightful kind of fuel than
peat has not yet been discovered. No
doubt there are various kinds of peat
good, bad and Indifferent. But the
best kind of peat is mild cleanly and
in every way useful and pleasant. 10
those who have been used to peat fuel
a coal fire appears insufficient and in
significant. Coal fires are much too
expensive to keep up in the Highland
fashion. Whatever else may be costly
in portions of the Highlands of Scot
land, fuel is cheap,
Peat is found to depth of over
twelve feet. Trunks of fir trees are
frequently discovered in it, several feet
from the surface. The fir is generally
in Il good state of preservation and
richly laden with rosin. Indeed, when
cut up and dried, moss fir, as it is
called, is sometimes used by the poorer
people instead of candles. The matter
of which peat is formed in Scotland is
mostly of Il messy character. Three or
four different kinds of peat, one above
the other, are often taken out of the
same bank. The first cut or layer is
usually of Il light or dark brown color,
the second is still darker and the third
or fourth is almost black, and, as it
We're, of a fatty substance. In the
first and second peatS moss and grass,
sometimes running from end to end,
are distinctly visible, but iT the third
or fourth the whole is clottcd together
in Il decomposed mass, so that all
traces of vegetation are merged i'll a
black composition of the consistence
of butter. All the peats make good
fuel but the latter is the best. After
being thoroughly dried it burns with
l,,;llt, li,v1,t in,
such way as to render any other ar
titicial light Unnecessary in winter
nights.
Peat cutting implements for which
are speedily made, is commenced about
the beginning of May. The turf or
crust is first stripped off in three or
four strips of varying thickness with
shovel-like implement, which is struck
forward from above the knee In
slanting position. This is the hardest
part of the work, and calls for some
technical skill. Then the substance Is
sliced out by the peat cutter with an
implement locally termed tusk. Two
persons, male or female, accompany
the cutter, taking the peat from him
as it is cut, spreading it at full length
on the ground. Three persons are
therefore engaged to one spade or
tusk but seven or eight spades will
cut sufficient peats in one day to serve
the uses of a family for whole year.
Peat-cutting day is generally associat-
cd with good-fellowship and festivity
The head of the family issues invita-
tions to those of his neighbors who are
known to have an aptitude for such
work, and on the morning Of the day
appointed the house is filled with young
men and women, together with some
old ones, blithely ready to do him the
required service. The days operations
are begun with breakfast-a repast
which would not disgrace a wedding
There is plenty of whiskey, of course;
a peat-cutting without whiskey would
never prosper. After appropriate
toasts have been duly hOnored the
party starts for the peat moss, where
the work is begun by the young people
more in the spirit of play than of labor
and carried on with hearty good will
At midday there is an interval for
luncheon, which is eaten on the heath
cry hillside in picnic fashion, and a
great deal of fun goes on meanwhile.
| Work is then resumed, often with the
result that the years peats are cut be-
fore 5 o'clock in the afternoon; and
then the party marches back to an
other hospitable meal. No payment is
given or expected; only it is understood
that each family engaged will help the
other in similar circumstances. An in
dividual here and there will cut his
peats himself, working at them day
after day until he has obtained the
requisite quantity, but the peat cutting
party system is much more popular.
In about month after the peats
have been cut they are dry enough, in
ordinary weather, to be put up on end
! in small heaps. In a short time after
wards two of these may be made into
one; and the fuel is generally carried
home towards the end of July or the
| beginning of August When taken
| home the peats are built into stack.
} The stack is built straight up for a
! few feet and then gradually tapers to
| the top, height of ten or twelve feet
| from the base. The peat is taken into
the house in small quantities, as it is
required for daily or weekly consump-
ton. Coal is not found in the High
lands of Scotland, where the ducal
proprietor spent large sums in opening
up the coal fields at Brora, but the
quality of the mineral, though good
enough for some purposes, is poor.
Peat holds sway everywhere in the
rural districts, where householders are
not troubled with coal bills or water
rates. The privilege of peat cutting is
extended to every crofter along with
every house and piece of land. Even
the outdoor pauper has peat ground
allotted to him; and whatever his pow
| artv NAV no in the HiphlandS he need