Department of Forests & Parks v. George's Creek Coal & Land Co.

Unless the appellants (the State) and the appellee (the Company 1 ) can come to terms in respect of compensation to the Company for the surrender of its mineral rights, our decision in this case will result in the scarification and uglification of most of the upper eastern face of Big Savage Mountain, one of the lesser glories of Garrett County. The facts, in large part undisputed, are as follows.

In 1910 the Company acquired the fee simple title to a tract of land containing 8,621)4 acres known as “Beattys’ Plains,” on Big Savage Mountain, near the boundary line between Garrett and Allegany…