Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-01-21
The Maryland Coal Mines.

Under the above heading Alexander
Rankin. Mine Inspector, contributes
the following paragraphs to the Eugi
neering and Mining Joumai, of New
York. The few harmless inaccuracies
which appear are most probably the
result of cover editing:'
The coal region of Maryland, commonly
| called the Georges Greek Coal Region, lies in
the western portion of Alegany County, in
the valley between the Great Savage and
Dams Mountains. The principal VEN, known
as the Big Vein, begins north Of the town Of
Frostburg and extends in a southwesterly di-
rection to the Potomac River a distance Of
about Is miles. Its greatest width Is at Frost
burg where it lies in one continuous layer
from 10 to If feet thick across the valley, a dis
lance of 81 miles. North of FroStburg this
vein is divided by the valleys of two small
streams, Braddock Run and Jennings Run,
into three divisions. South Of Frostburg, ,
miles distant, 1t is similarly divided by
Georges Creek
\ survey of the region in an early period of
its history resulted in an estimated area Of
about II, 900 acres. About two-thir,is of this
area has been mined. Other but smaller
veins undere the Big Vein, some of which
are being worked at the southern end of the
region, and the coal is of a very fair quality
With improved methods ofmining, improv
ed facilities for handling coal, and reputation
of furnishing excellent steam coal, there is
no reason to apprehend any loss Of markets.
Much more coal per acre is gotten out than
under obsolete systems, and the machinery
used now includes the latest and best types
of stationary engines, air COmpressors,
pumps, tal-rope haulage systems, etc. These
appliances have increased the quality mined,
besides placing coal in better shape in the
hands of the consumer.
The region affords employment to 1000
| good miners, whose output this year will APP
proach closely 100000 tons.
There are here also friedrich manutact-
urers in the coal region, one in Mt. Savage
! the other in Frostburg, whose brick is noted
| for fine quality.
The Cumberland Il Pennsylvania Railroad
which runs direct through the coal re-
| gion from Cumberland to Piedmont, 81 miles,
has made some extensive improvements dur
ing the year, having replaced wooden bridges
with steel and relaid almost the entire line
with new SO-lb. steel rails. Over this road all
of the coal is carried to the connecting lines
extending to the seaboard.
In the same periodical Prof. William
Bullock Clark, writing on same line,
says:
The increased coal output has been the most
| significant factor connected with the growth
of the mining industry in Maryland, de
velopment which has been largely due to
| more efficient management of the extensive
! property of the Consolidation Coal Company.
The development in trade, and particularly
| the demand for high grade steam coal by the
National Government, have been important
factors in the increased output of the mines.
Modern machinery has also been introduced
and further improvements are proposed
which will still further develop the coal prop
| critics.
Publications of Mr.. Rankin's state
ment in some of the papers make it APP
pear that "tro-thir}s qfM region" is
mined.
But Mr.. Rankin was talking Of the
vaster seams that lie below that ia
nous layer. These veins-the lower,
have scarcely been touched, and,
while not SO excellent in quality as
the Big Vein,' will be a groundwork
of industry and growth for generations
| to come.