The Washington herald., 1912-01-22
By DONALD c. THOMPSON,
stan Correspondent.


stan Correspondent.
Cumberland, Nd, Jan. Eleven In
the dead of winter, with the snow
capped mountains towering high above,
and the keen winter wind whirling the
snow through the streets, there Is
fascination about the city OF Cumoer-
land, MaryIand's Queen City, and the
metropolis Of the western part Of the
state.
Cumberland is the second city of
Maryland in point OF population, ana
the center of commercial and indus
trial activity OF the western section OF
the State The city is surrounded by
vast resources of natural wealth, the
coal mines Of the famous Georges
Creek region being but a dozen miles
AWAY. and the mercantile and manufac-
turing business of Cumberland has
brought her in the front rank Of the in
dustriaI cities of the East. A part of Penn
sylvania, all of Northeastern West Nir-
Einla, and a limited part OF Northern
virginia furnish territory into which
the acute business man OF Cumberland
goes in search Or wealth. And there is
wealth in Cumberland. and plenty OF it.
Eight substantial banks, for example.
are in the city to care for the dollars
that are taken out OF mine and mill and
factory Four of these are national
banks, while in the other four the
workiugnen's savings are boarded. In
Allegany County. OF which Cumberland
is the seat, there are eighteen banks.
The city Of Cumberland is situated
on both sides Of Wills Creek, and on
the Potomac River. extending from the
narrows between Wills Mountain and
Wills Knob to the Potomac. Baltimore
is ls. miles east. Washington $50
iniIes Pittsburg $50 miles northeast,
and Wheeling 200 miles west. The city
has expensive suburbs across the Po-
romac. in West Virginia. Braddoclls
road and the National pike both started
from Cumberland-abandO now and
succeeded by the swift steel rail. The
chesapeake and Ohio Canal which wac
opened with pUmp and ceremony on
October 10. 1850. starts at Cumberland
and winds along the course Of the Po-
Iomac to Washington and Alexandria.
The first train on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad arrived in Cumberland
from the East on November l, lSi2. and
from that date until 1853 Cumberland
was the western terminus of that road.
cumberland is the point where the
main line of the Baltimore and Ohio di-
vides. one branch extending TO st.
Louis. via Cincinnati. the other to
Pittsburg. and both meeting at Chi
raEo. Then there are the Western
Maryland and West Virginia Central
and Pittsburg railroads. The Western
Maryland Railroad has practically COM
pleted its ~xteusion from Cumberland
10 ConneIIsville. Pa. where It connects
with the Pittsburg and Lake Erie,
which runs into Pittsburg.
Its Great Railroad Shops.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
shops. employing hundreds of men.
have been located at Cumberland for
some years. and The Washington Her
aid learns to-day. on the highest au-
rhOrity. that the Western Maryland
will establish a division point in the
near future at Cumberland and build
immense shops across the river. With the
Western Maryland thus connected with
PittsbUrg. Cumberland is on the line
OF a great transcOntinentaI system of
railroads. The Cumberland and Penn
sylvania and the Georges Creek rail
roads tap the Georges Creek region.
while the Pennsylvania and the Cum
berIand and Broadtop lines take care
Of the Southern Pennsylvania and far
Western Maryland sections OF the
country Then the Chesapeake and
ohio Canal except for a few winter
months OF the year. carries freight
from all that section to the Capital
City OF the nation.
What was many years ago a stock
ade fort has to-day been transformed
INTO a hustling. thriving city. 500 feet
above sea level. healthy and clean,
hlled with beautiful residences. stately
churches. splendid public buildings and
schools, busy factories and lumber
mills, and wholesale and retail stores
In fact, Cumberland possesses all that
enters into the building of a modern
city. 1t is the center of a very large
wholesale and retail business. with un-
surpassed banking facilities, electric
lights. natural and artificial gas. ex-
haustless water supply. an extensive
system Of electric street railways, an
up-to-date fire department, an efficient
and yigilant police force, temples
where Justice sits enthrOned, and pub
lie parks and Fairgrounds. The coun-
try adjacent 10 Cumberland is made up
uf rich mineral. farming. and grazing
lands. and Of late years the growing OF
apples and other fruits has taken its
place one OF Western Maryland's
wealth producing occupations. The fruit
operations Of =. Mettens' Sons, at Green