Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Ligonier Echo
Wednesday, November 25, 1903
Ligonier Valley's New Railroad
Charter Granted For The Westmoreland Central
Extends Ligonier To Bolivar
Ligonier To Become A Center Of Industry The Seger Bros., A Local Firm, The Prime Movers In The Local Company Bearing Their Name, Unite With Representatives Of Other Corporations Having Holdings In Ligonier Valley In The Building Of The Westmoreland R.R. Co. Work To Be Pushed As Rapidly At Weather Conditions Will Permit
For many years rumors have been going the rounds in our historic valley that this or that industry was to spring into being, and in no case was any specific time named, but there has always been a feeling that the thing would happen and at last we are to realize that something more potent than mere talking is to happen.
The holdings of the Seger Coal & Coke Co. and Seger Land Co. are to be worked with great vigor and we may look for more prosperity than ever heretofore. It is an undisputed fact that Ligonier Valley is rich in minerals of many kinds, that they are here in large and paying quantities. Various capitalists have paid us visits, but notwithstanding the fact that they expressed an anxiety to come among us and help us, we have remained as stolid as the proverbial Sphinx, and after knocking at our doors they have departed leaving us to continue trampling the diamonds of prosperity under our feet. With Artemus Ward we are led to exclaim, "Where are the boys of my youth?" Gone in search of employment to do a similar work that might be brought to their own doors, and we take special pride in the fact that at last "a Daniel has come to judgment" and from our home soil has sprung a force powerful enough to demand that the resources of our valley shall and must be recognized in the field of commercial industry. The men who are at the head of the concerns named are well known for their conservative judgment and for their sagacity in financial affairs and we feel assured that ultimate success must crown their efforts.
Every obstacle thus far presented has been met and overcome. We predict a splendid and prosperous future for our valley. Our people should stand shoulder to shoulder with the industries named and allow no barrier to be placed in the way. The stock of the Seger Coal & Coke Co. has had a phenomenal sale for past six months, having been placed mainly with those interested in other and similar lines of industry. The building of the Westmoreland Central Railroad will be pushed along rapidly and the portion from Ligonier to the Seger Coal Co.'s mine will be pushed as hurriedly as possible. We take pleasure in clipping from Sunday's Press the following article which should be entertaining to every one who stands sponsor for Ligonier Valley's success.
"Some weeks ago surveys were completed and the actual work of constructing a railroad through Westmoreland county was begun. This work was under the direction of the Seger Coal & Coke Co., and was begun at Ligonier. When completed it will connect
that town with the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Bolivar Station, a distance of about 14 miles, and touching en route the coal and timber property of the Seger Coal and Coke Co., thus giving them shipping facilities for the coal they are mining and their proposed coke and timber output. Other parties who are interested in the thousands of acres of valuable coal and timber property in Westmoreland and Somerset counties propose to join hands and capital with the newly charted company and extend their line from Ligonier southward along the levels of the Loyalhanna creek and Indian creek so as to connect with the new Wabash at some convenient point and with the Baltimore &
Ohio at Indian Creek Station. Such exceptional outlets would surely be a sweet boon to all the large interests along the route and to the entire population in general. While the work of construction was being carried forward by the Seger Coal & Coke Co., a charter has been applied for under the title of the Westmoreland Central Railroad Co., through their attorney, C. T. Moore, of Pittsburgh. This charter was duly signed and sealed by Governor Pennypacker, November 18, and it is promised by O. E. Hallam, representative of the company, whose office is with the Seger Coal & Coke Co. at 414 Third avenue, that from this time the work of completing the road will be rushed just as rapidly as
possible. It has been stated by an officer of the company that the disadvantages of building a railroad during the winter months is more than compensated by the present exceedingly low process of building material."