The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-08-12
Mine SEALING PROGRAM
HERE TO Be BENEFICIAL
Thousands Of Tons Of SuIphuric
Acid Will Be Eliminated From
Rivers And Streams of County
WORK BEING DONE BY WPA

With the aim of eliminating sui
phuric acid from the streams of the
county, so that fish may be plentiful,
and so that the water will not be in
furious to cattle, or destructive to
metal bridges, culverts, etc., the State
Board of Health has been sponsoring
WPA project in Garrett county that
is calculated to be of distinct benefit
to this region for many years in the
future.
Elimination of the acid is being
done by the sealing of abandoned mine
openings along the Potomac, Yough-
iogheny and Casselman rivers and all
their tributaries.
Much progress is being made in
this work, according to Henry Tar
ring, Jr., WPA supervisor for the
county. Those in charge are concen-
tratlng on mine openings along the
Potomac river and its tributaries as
it was stated the acid content in that
area is greater than in the other Sec
lions.
Project Began in 1885
The project began in September,
1885, and is in charge of S. Graft
Haverstick, Frostburg, mining en-
gineer, with John T. Hughes, German,
supervisor. The work of discovering
all the mine openings has been under
the direction of Roy ]. Butts, German,
who has made tests on the content and
flow of water from the majority of the
mines in the county. Tests have been
made at each mine opening during
the four seasons Of the year.
A glance at the records in the office
of Mr.. Tarring shows a total of 179
mines. They are distributed as fol-
lows:
Potomac region, 1O1; active mines,
80; temporarily shut down, 10; aban-
doned, So.
Youghiogheny region, 81; active,
10; temporarily shut down, Is; aban-'
doned, 81.
Casselman region, 9; active, 7;
abandoned, 2.
Around the Potomac 45 of 1O1 are
dry. or the water has alkaline content,
which is not destructive. Fifty-six are
acid. e----v-e.-s
Around the Youghiogheny 26 are
dry or alkaline, IS are acid. Around
the Casselman 5 are dry or alkaline,
4 are acid.
How Acid Is Formed
Mr.. Tarring stated that the sui
phuric acid was formed by contact of
sulphur in the mines with water and
air. Two basic principles are involved
in the abandoned mine sealing pro-
gram, water diversion and air ex-
clusion. The project is being carried
through by sealing the openings and
cracks so as to cut off air in aban-
doned mines. This is being done by,
construction of masonry walls with
traps, and earth packs where openings
are dry.
Forty-three WPA men are now be-
ing employed and at present the men
are working at the Standard mines
at Vindex, and Manor No. 1 mine at
Vindex, and Davis Coal & Coke COM
pany mine at Kempton. All are the
lower Kittanning seam.
The plan, which is expected to take
at least two more years, is to seal all
abandoned mine openings. Those that
are abandoned after the project is
completed will be sealed by the mine
companies as they become abandoned,
so that in the future all sulphuric acid
will be eliminated from streams.
Many Will Benefit
Fishermen are not the only ones
who will benefit from acid elimination,
it was stated. The farmer and cattle
raisers will profit as it makes pure
water for livestock. Industries also
in their boilers, reducing the rate of
corrosion. 1t is also expected to save
much money for the county for
bridges, culverts, etc. Metal calculated
to last for ten or fifteen years will
rust away in little over a year,
tests have proven, when the acid con-
tent in the water is heavy.
Tests have shown that in the Po-
tomac river, 4,681.86 tons of acid
are carried off each year from mines
along its tributaries, just in this coun-
ty. In the Youghiogheny river 27255
tons are carried annually, while the
Casselman carries 255.O3 tons per
year.
One mine alone, on the Potomac
river, the Wolf Den mine, furnishes
1894 tons of the total amount. The
Dodson No. l mine is almost as men
acing, producing 1887 tons per year.
People of Bloomington, according
to Mr. Tarring, have been anxious for
the Pattison mine to be sealed so that
the water flowing from the opening
could be used for drinking purposes
in case the Savage river dam is con-
structed. The water from the Patti
son mine has an acid content. OF 296.7
tons annually. The mine is aban-
doned. After mine is sealed it takes
from eight months to a year to show
any results, Mr.. Tarring stated.
Costing $500 Per Month
Figures in the WPA office show
that this mine sealing project is cost
ing the Federal government $500 per
month and that since the project was
started in 1885 the total cost to date
has been $14,119.55. The Board OF
Health considers the damage being
caused by the acid to be much more
costly. The Maryland Board is CO.
operating with Boards Of Pennsyl-
vania and West Virginia who are con-
Quoting similar projects in their
states. Mine sealing in West Virginia
has been carried on for over three