The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-11-24

anu DtCdillt lJtl UldllN lColOlFu IiCil
tally, but physically wreck.
1t was the pleasure of the writer to
visit, on Monday last, KitZmillersyille
and Blaine, the first named in Mary
land the latter in West Va, and con-
nected by a bridge across the North
Branch of the Potomac. We could
hardly realize what improvements had
taken place in the last few years since
we had visited this progressive town.
1t now las population of about one
thousand souls, with two fine
churches, a model school building,
mill, wool factory, three or four
stores, a drug store, a first class hotel
and some elegant homes of modern
architecture.
Our old friend and comrade, VIM.
H. Pool, and sons own and operate
the wooden factory, and our mutual
friend of years ago, Mr.. J. H. Rafter,
is the manager of the Blaine Mer-
camille CO.,-and mas a large well fill
ed store and does a THRIVING business.
He and Mr.. George Kitzmiller are
largely interested in the Blaine Min
ing Co., aud besides this mine there
are FIVE other companies operating
and shipping coal from this point on
the West Va. c. & p. II. r., viz, on
/ the Maryland side of the river, Hamill
Coal aud Mining Company, of Garrett
County; Davis Coal Company, J. NJ
Davis & Bro, of near this place,
owners and proprietors, but no rela-
ton to the famous Davis Coal \ Coke
Co., of National repute as coal men.
/ On the West Virginia side is the Wa
bash Coal Co, Smith Coal Co., Dill
Coal Co.. and with the Blaine Mining
Co., of Maryland, makes six com.
panies that ship vast quantities each
day, and working some hundreds Of
miners, who have homes in this place
and all good, law abiding citizens az
was attested at an early hour or
Monday morning when one of theil
homes caught fire about five o'clock
All the clothes of the family were con
sumed in the flames, but on going tC
the scene we found hundreds of these
people assisting and helping theil
neighbor and friend who had been Sc
unfortunate. The house was owned
by my friend of years standing, Mr.
Thomas Harvey, who lives near kitz
millersville. on that beautiful farm
with it's magnificent stone house Sc
handsomely finished in hard wood
The town property was rented to TIL,
North American Coal Company by
Mr.. Harvey, and occupiedby one o
their employees, Loss about S4OO fol
house, contents supposed to be 81
or 800.
To say that we enjoyed our hast.
visit othis hospitable town, would
be but feeble expression. We wer
delighted at the royal welcome to tn
home of our comrade and the greet
ing of his good, kind wife, she
friend | had met and had been enter
tanned at her parental home in year
gone blythe late Henry Hamill
father of your fellow townsman, Mr.
NJ. R. Hamill, of the First Nationa
Bank.
To this dear comrade, who we hav
met and kept in touch with and tn
remenicences, as we fight our battle
over" are always entertaining and en-
loved. His vivid recollections of tn
exciting scenes of forty years ago, s.
concur with my own that when W
meet the hours seem too short, tn
midnight hour finds US talking: an,
as.we bear the same given name an,
our fathers old friends in the goo
old ante bellum days, Will and Wi
seem like twin brothers.
Having attended church tonight an
scratched these lettings before retiI
ing and having had busy day, W
say good night, and
MORE ANON.