Antitrust and Trade Regulation laws aim to promote free competition in the marketplace. Agreements or cooperative efforts by two or more entities that affects or restrains competitors is illegal under these laws. The Sherman Act makes illegal any contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce and makes monopolies and attempts, combinations, or conspiracies to monopolize illegal. The Clayton Act regulate price discrimination, tying and exclusive dealing contracts, stock acquisition and interlocking directorates.
Eckhart Mines is an unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland, USA. Eckhart Mines lies at the southwestern base of Federal Hill, 2.9 km (1.8 mi) east of Frostburg and 1.3 km (0.8 mi) northwest of Clarysville. The town was originally founded as a company town for the nearby Eckhart Mines. The outcrop of the Pittsburgh coal seam here is known locally as the big vein or the 14 foot coal. The Eckhart Mines' location here was the first bituminous coal mine developed in the Georges Creek Valley coalfield because this is where The National Road crossed the coal outcrop. The Eckhart operation was owned by the Maryland Mining Company which eventually combined with other companies to form the Consolidation Coal Company.