Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-09-30
TOWN AND VICINITY.
Retrospect.

Last weeks Gleaner contained the
following highly valued paragraph:
The MINING JOURNAL, will this week COM
plete its twenty eighth volume.
Twenty-eight years ago Frostburg wasn't
the beautiful little town it is to-day. 1t
didn't have its magnificent buildings, paved
streets, water works, electric light, and the
many other luxures which we enjoy. Its
citizens, to large extent, were not the edu-
Gated and weli-read people we have to-day.
Some could not write their names and many
could not read intelligently. Under these
conditions the MINING JOURNAL entered upon
its mission of usefulness in educating the
masses and champOning the towns best in
terests. In those days everything from
fourthclass tanner to t. p. could not edit
paper and thus derive the benefit of others
labors. 1t required years of labor to educate
the people to appreciate the use of printers
ink. Some have not yet learned, however,
and never will. Then who can say that the
JOURNAL is not responsible, in a measure,
for many of the blessings we enjoy? Those
only who would usurp, if possible, the very
existence of superior craftsman. The
cleaner is honest enough to acknowledge its
Indebtedness to the JOURNAL for reasonable
share of the success which it enjoys, and
charitable enough to wish the editor many
prosperous anniversaries IN which to enjoy
his declining years in peace and plenty.
Almost literally true.
When the JOURNAL issued its first
number Frostburg was ''ln the woods"
The JOURNAL could name many evi
dences of this statement, but they do
not subserve its present purpose.
From the beginning the JOURNAL
favored mprovement-public and pri-
vate, and did so with force and con
stancy that had happy effect.
When l.. M. Gorsuch, the pioneer of
brick sidewalks, took practical hold of
that measure of Improvement. the
JOURNAL aided him warmly and con
tlnuously in solving every problem
that a veXatious and almost general
opposition set up against his march.
To him, more than any other man, the
town owes lis triumph over the Bour-
bonism which would have kept it Gin
the woods
In 1871 there were not over three
rock crossings in the place. Others
followed sidewalk paving-slowly but
surely, until the town is quite well
supplied.
Without painful particularly of orr
gin and rise of each improvement, it
is sufficient to say that all that follow
ed street improvement gathered impe-
tus from the verified advantages of
that step. Churches grew in number
and magnitude two opera houses were
projected and built; stores enlarged
and modernized-all these for years
stimulated and advertised to the world
by no voice save that which found ut
terance in the JOURNAL.
Nenturing outside of the area of the
cleaners range, the JOURNAL played
no inefficient part in the success of the
movement which resulted in the con
struction of the Georges Creek and
Cumberland railroad-an instance
wherein the force of popular senti-
ment educated by newspaper went a
long, long way in overcoming the
powerful opposition arrayed against it.
This will be remembered by many
whose attention, haply, may be ar
rested by this statement.
Excepting one man. now dead, the
JOURNAL did more than any other to
secure the enactment of the mining
law of 1878, a measure that has been
of unquestioned benefit to the miners.
More than any other, its editor ac-
compllshed the transfer of the Nation
al Pike from the general government
to the counties Of Allegany and Gar.
rett, especially after it was approved by
the Legislature and Governor. The as
sent of Congress being necessary, Hon.
William Walsh secured that from the
House of Representatives, but 1t hung
fire for nearly year in the Senate.
Two visits to that body were made,
the last resulting in promise from
Hon. George f. Edmunds to with
draw an objection he alleged and as.
sent to its passage. Within two weeks
the transfer was complete. The road
at once passed into the care of the
county, the toll-gates removed and in
Allegany at least far better thorough
fare was thus obtained--this without
direct and vexatious cost to citizens