COAL-FIELDS OF MARYLAND. 313 
greatness, which the utmost stretch of the imagina- 
tion is hardly able to equal.* 
COAL-FIELDS OF MARYLAND. 
These are bituminous, and, so far as discovered, 
two in number, viz., the Cumberland Field, extend- 
ing from Will's Creek to the head branch of the Po- 
tomac, being about 60 miles in length by from five 
to seven in width, covering an area of 400 sq. miles ; 
the coal existing in beds of from three to fifteen feet 
thick, of an excellent quality, burning easily, with a 
bright and durable flame, caking, and leaving little 
residue. The other, called the Youghiogeny Field, 
lies west of the Alleghany Ridge, is of unknown ex- 
tent, and has beds of coal 20 feet in thickness. 
The Cumberland Coal-field, sometimes called the 
Frostburgh Coal-field, in Alleghany county (Md.), 
is worthy of particular notice, on account of the re- 
markable character of the coal, it being intermedi- 
ate between anthracite and the usual variety of bi- 
tuminous coal. The boundaries are the Savage 
Mountain on the west, and Dan Mountain on the 
east, these ranges being from 1200 to 1500 feet 
above the general surface of the lower parts of the 
intermediate country, which is composed of numer- 
ous high hills and deep valleys, often narrow and 
abrupt. Professor Ducatelf estimates the elevation 
of the coal-field above the sea to be about 1850 feet, 
though it is generally estimated at 1500 feet; and 
1000 feet above the village of Cumberland, 11 miles 
distant. 
The shape and structure of this coal-field has been 
compared to that of a canoe, or, rather, of several 
canoes placed one within the other, representing 
the successive strata of coal, shale or slate, sand- 
stone, iron ore, and limestone, of which this trough 
is composed. The coal, shale, and sandstone are 
♦ Dr. Hildreth. f Report, &;c., 1836. 
