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, December 9, 1903
EDITORIAL
New Railroads
The building of new railroads in any country is the forerunner enterprise, prosperity and wealth. If a railroad is built ahead of demand, the necessity of the road and the wisdom of its building will soon follow. Ligonier valley without a railroad was slow and fossilized. The building of the Ligonier Valley railroad marked a new era in the history and progress of this community. Some of our older citizens will remember the condition of things in 1876 and in previous years prior to the building of the first railroad to the valley. This road has opened up the valley and given us commercial intercourse with the rest of the world. It matters not how much hidden wealth we have on and under our
farms, it is useless unless it is so situated that our products have a market. Coal, timber, ore and rock will not make us wealthy except they are developed and brought to market and this cannot be done without railroads. The Ligonier Valley railroad was a financial blessing and gave us means of transportation and brought us in touch with the commercial centers of the world. This road was followed by the Pittsburg, Westmoreland & Somerset railroad which has brought our mountain products, especially timber, into market and has given employment to many men and has helped us in many ways. Out town is much better for the building of this road and the Byers-Allen lumber mills and the impetus given to other industries.
Next will come the building of the Westmoreland Central railroad in the interest of the Seger Coal & Coke Co., the Oliver-Snyder Coal & Coke Co., Judge Steel Coal Co., Indian Creek Lumber Co., and others. This road under the present plan is to be built first to Seger Coal & Coke Company's territory, then to Bolivar to connect with the
Pennsylvania railroad. It is designed later to build the road up the valley along the Loyalhanna, then to Indian creek and down the Youghiogheny river to New Haven. It will touch the South Penn in Donegal township and when this South Penn is once completed will connect Ligonier valley with points east and west, bringing the products in close touch with the markets. When these roads are built our valley will be one of the great industrial sections of Westmoreland county. We expect to see all this completed within the next few years. Talk and newspaper articles along will not accomplish it; in addition labor, brains and capital are necessary to accomplish the result. All interest
should work along lines essential to the completion of these roads and the development of the resources of our valley.