The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1961-03-16
Garrett Silver
Continued From Page One

countered, assuring that the cable
would not, in some future year,
be disturbed. Thus the presence of
a geologist in the surveying party
was a necessity.
In the course of numerous con-
versations with this geologist, the
writer learned that a number of
proposed routes through the coun-
ty were by-passed because of the
indicated presence of precious
minerals. Chief among these was
silver
The writer has no information
concerning the exact location of
these deposits which are in the
southern area of the county but he
has been assured they exist This
secret is probably locked in the
files of the communications COM
pany developing the cable project
in cooperation with the United
States goVernmcnt-and at the mo-
ment the concern is not precious
ores.
A month or two ago, Alvin w.
Tenant, of Homecoming, sent the
writer a stock certificate issued in
1891 by The Silver Bell Mining
Company of Garrett County, Mary
land" Mr.. Tenant said the paper
had been discovered when an old
railroad station in Homecoming
had been dismantled last year, and
wondered if silver mining had
ever been profitable in this sec
ton.
Tracing the activities of the
Silver Bell proved no easy task.
Since it was incorporated under
the laws of the State of West
Virginia. no information was avail
able from local sources concern
ing its stockholders or corporate
records. An inquiry to the West
Virginia Corporations commission
in Charleston brought only the
reply that records in its posses
sion were not complete beyond the
year 1900.
Recently. in Cumberland, the
writer had the opportunity to
examine some files of The Re- !
view,' newspaper published in /
many years ago, and /
sure enough, frequent mention !
was made of the Silver Bell and |
the activities of its promoters in
selling stock in that section, and /
in this county.
Apparently, however. stock sell
ing was the major activity of the
project, and there is no evidence
10 indicate that any ore in profit
able quantities was ever recovered.
Several years ago, Ross burst, a
former county resident, recalled
he Silver Bell. and wrote:
Two gentlemen prospectors
named Miller came from Arizona
and began prospecting for gold
and silver in Garrett county.
they announced that
hey had found valuable ore on
he property of Hiram Duckworth,
n remote spot in the backwoods
section beyond Fairview Church
Samples were sent away for as
say and were found to contain a
nigh percentage of silver. This
produced great excitement
the region. Action was
begun at once to form mining
called The Silver Bell.
Stock sold readily when it became
Known that certain bankers at
-onaconing were investing heavily.
Whether they invested their own
money or bank funds | do not
Know
At any rate, the stock must have
sold readily. The certificate which
Mr. Tenant sent is numbered
5120. and was issued to Henry NJ.
Broadwater for one share with a
par value of $500 The capital
stock of the corporation was listed
at S250,000.00. Officers were r. r.
Matheny, secretary, and r. M
Boyd, president. Both of these in
Evidence of silver part two .....
dividuals have been identified as
being connected with the bank at
although there is
nothing to indicate that the bank
ing firm had any financial connec-
ton with The Silver Bell.
In his recollections, Mr.. burst
continues:
Coal miners we're brought
from Georges Creek to begin the
mining operations. There is
world of difference between hard
rock mining and coal mining but
no handbook miners we're available.
In the light of subsequent events,
This cbOicn NAV have bnnn iDtop