The Big Vein

The Big Vein refers to a 14-foot thick seam of bituminous coal discovered in the Georges Creek Valley in the US in the early 19th century. This coal vein became famous for its clean-burning low sulfur content that made it ideal for powering ocean steamers, river boats, locomotives, and steam mills, and machines shops.

By 1850, almost 30 coal companies were mining the valley, producing over 60 million tons of coal between 1854 to 1891. The Consolidation Coal Company, established in 1864 and headquartered in Cumberland, Maryland became one of the largest bituminous coal companies in the eastern United States and Cumberland had financial connections that reached beyond Washington, DC and Baltimore to New York and London.

References

* Brugger, " Maryland: A New Guide to the Old Line State", Johns Hopkins University 1999, ISBN 0801859808
* Samel Harries, "Coal, Iron, and Oil", B. Bannan 1866 (copyright expired), [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC02657721 Full Text Online] , page 333.