Page 35 - December Banner 2018_Neat

Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper December 2018 Page 35

1877

by James Rada, Jr.

Coal Mine or Coal Dump?

Many people were on the property had ceased in letter writer said the coal had been
comparing it to the high- November after less than two dumped near Motter’s Station, it
quality bituminous coal months in operation. doesn’t seem likely that it would have
mined in Allegany County. “The proprietor is still hopeful, been the coal mine on Cretin’s farm.
Coal mining was a major however, that a big let lies buried For one thing, the coal wasn’t found

Although coal seams are only known to be found in industry in that county, and under the ground, but he doesn’t feel near a road. Also, witnesses saw the
Western Maryland, Motters Station once had a short- some hoped it could become justified in digging for it just now,” coal seam and coal being dug from
lived coal mine in the late 1800s. so in Frederick County. the newspaper reported. the ground. Bush’s excess coal would
“This will be a big thing in A letter that appeared later in the have sat on top of the ground.
Frederick County hides a wealth Frederick County and the cost of Catoctin Clarion suggested the coal However, the Motter’s Station
of natural resources underground. coal in the future will be lessened mine might not have been what it coal mine is improbable. It was
It is mined for iron, copper, gold, a great deal,” the Catoctin Clarion seemed. The letter writer said that found in a region where coal has not
lead, silver, zinc, aluminum, stone, reported. “It will also cause others a man named Harris Bush had been been found, even today. The coal
limestone, silica, calcium, and clay. to make an examination of their hauling coal to Emmitsburg years seam also petered out quickly.
At one time, Frederick County also lands and probably bring to light ago when the load proved to be So, was there a coal mine in
had a short-lived coal mine or did some richer minerals, which must be heavy to pull. Bush unloaded much Northern Frederick County?
it? about in this region so close to the of the coal to make it easier for his Cretin believed so, but when she
In October 1877, coal was mountains.” horses to pull the remainder. The died in 1899, no other coal had been
discovered on the farm of Mary Despite the hoopla, the letter writer believed this to be the found on her farm or in the county
Ann Cretin near Motter’s Station. newspaper announced that mining source of the coal mine. Although the for that matter.
This was an amazing find. Maps
of Maryland coal resources with
the Maryland Department of the
Environment show the state’s
coal deposits are in the Western
Maryland mountains, beginning
beneath the mountains that run
along the border between Garrett
and Allegany counties.
After the mine opened, the
Catoctin Clarion announced that it
“is really amounting to something
and coal in large quantities is being
taken from it.”
People were apparently visiting
the farm just to see the coal mine in
operation. They said that the coal
seam being mined was about a foot
thick.
Samples of the coal were tested
by a blacksmith whose last name
was Weaver “who pronounces it
equal to any he ever used for his
purposes. All who have seen the
specimens taken from the vein
pronounce it genuine coal and the
owner of the land is in high glee
in anticipation of a big fortune,”
according to the newspaper.

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