Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-03-06
As An Old Miner Sees Things.

shipping facilities and other matters
appurtenant to this region, and as it
partakes OF "reminiscences, growth COM
parsons and other elements of inter
est slightly seasoned with ginger, the
JOURNAL publishes those paragraphs
which touch nearest home:
Commencing with the Consolidation min
my plants, the Ocean slope has increased its
tonnage in the last few years to double the
former amount by the introduction of i'm
proved mining machinery. A large number
OF comfortable houses have been pult near by
for the accommodation of miners.
Further up the line is what is known as the
pumping shaft. 1t is 2I0 feet deep. pump
included. Three large force pumps, supplied
by steam through pipes from the boilers on
the surface, are used for forcing the water
out. The volume of water is the natural
flow from the Hoffman slope and its old sur
rounding connections. The shaft has all
modern mining Improvements for safety and
is the most completely finished "hole in the
ground that | ever descended, aud their
number is more than one
The next in rotation is the Hoffman slope
with its six lifts one mile and quarter in
length, which makes it the longest opening
of Its kind IN the country Coal has been
holsted out of it since 1856, and it is good for
Il number of years yet.
The Eckhart slope is one of the landmarks
of our coal trade. 1t was sunk under Pap
DnyisSpn'S nI, mi. Of tbo NJ
land Coal company in the early fifties It's
capacity has been doubled of late years by
the best modern system of underground
haulage on the most improved plans known
to the science of mining. Those three open
ngs can produce 1000 tons per day, and with
the overtime that the miners have been work
ing, the company will ship more coal this
season than ever it did in its history. The
cause for this has been attributed bv some to
the qualify of the coal, coupled with the fact
that president Lord, not being connected
with any railroad system, is devoting his
whole tine and attention to the coal bust
ness; by Others of free trade procivities that
it is owing to the reduction of the duty on
coal. Be the cause what it may, the facts of
the increase remain the same as stated above
The greater town Of Eckhart. which now
includes Parkersburg is fast extending its
limits, and the prospect for it continuing to
do so is more encouraging than some other
villages of the region.
Returning to another direction, we come
to the openings of the Hitchins Bros, upon
land leased of the Consolidation coal COM
pany, where the neat and well-aid-out village
Of Carlos is built with its postotfce and other
Improvements. This same firm has cleaned
out two other mines within the last few years
at what is known as the Miller mines How
long 1t will take them to do the same with
the present ones is more than your CORES
pondent knows. The senior partner of this
firm, Owen Hitchins, is dead He was a
well known miner.
The Borden mining companys Bowery
mines are still supplying their wel-known
steam coal from their model mining plant
Near by is the village of Midlothian. 1t is
not improving fast, Ipresume the re-opening
of the old mines about it, when it takes place,
may have some effect to boom it.
The next that comes under my notice is the
metropolis of Allegany, the city that stands
upon the hlll-Frostburg, with its 5000 souls.
What contrast there is between the present
time and when | first walked up Main and
out Broadway and Water streets, which took
in the principal part Of the town. In those
days there were no McCullohs, BeaIls or
Graham additions, that are all now built up
with homes of good industrious citizens. 1t
is built upon transverse ridge connecting
Dams and Savage mountains and the broad
est part of the coal basin, none of the big
seams of coal having been eroded at this
point. 1t is 200 feet above tide Its streets
are well paved and lighted by electricity and
gas. A number of the business houses would
do credit to larger cities. The merchants are
enterprisng and goods can be bought as
cheap there as anywhere else in the county
Its friedrich and foundry products are well
known all over the country for their
superior quality. The goods from its
furniture establishments are known all
through the county for their excellent work
manship and finish. 1t has two Nation
al banks, both doing good business The
hotel accommodations are all that could be
desired, with livery attached, both at moder-
ate rates. With pure air and mountain
scenery, and an abundant supply of pure
mountain water, the most essential element
necessary for the growth of city or town,
there is no pleaSanter summer resort. Famed
for its public schools and churches of nearly
all denominations. where sinners are warned
to flee from the wrath to come, and thereby
escaping the mountains from falling on them.
Last. but not least, the well-known news
paper, the MINING JOURNAL, that is sometimes
person i'll its editor and proprietor J. B.
Oder, but whether in the form of one or the
other. it can always be depended on to stand
up for the interests of Frostburg.
The city is principally supplied with fuel
from the old Consolidation mine, which is
worked for local use only.
The Union mining company's mine, To-
Gated close by the New Hope slope near the
metropolis, is shipping large quantities of
first class article of steam coal from the big
seam.
Further down the run is the village Of
Allegany. Like the village of / o den nj ne,
both appear to be finished at the prese
time, Perhaps they are waiting for the
troubling of the waters.
On oul way down the line we pass the old
Wlthers mining company property The
Court of Appeals decided that it died by the
default of the Maryland Legislature in not
breathing into its nostrls the breath of life to
keep it a living soul according to the terms
of its charter, The long talked of switch h; $
not been put in yet. Possibly it is waiting
the decision of an International conference of
railroad corporations.
Close by on the opposite side of Il e
Cumberland and Pennsylvania railroad
a long siding has connected it to the
last big seam of coal prOpertY that Is now he