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 7, 1904
Coal Development North Of Ligonier
"North Ligonier" Sale Of Lots A Decided Success
Coal Mine And Coke Ovens
November 29th A Big Day In Starting A Great Ligonier Valley Industry Excellent Steam And Coking Coal Easily Mined By Drift North Ligonier Lots To Number Of 67 Sold For About $11,000 Free Lot Drawn By Geo. Senft, General Manager Of L.V.R.R. Co. Officers Of Company With W. G. Cronkright As General Manager
The Ligonier valley industrial plant known as the Colonial Coal & Coke Company plant, situated a short distance north of Ligonier, was formally started Tuesday of last week when the stockholders of the company which has just completed the first coal and coke plant in this valley, came out from Pittsburgh and other points along the line of the railroad and personally viewed the site of the mines, the coke ovens and tipple and the new town of North Ligonier, and saw the glorious prospects for the promised development and ended the day in a rousing sale of lots of the new industrial town of
North Ligonier.
Between 250 and 300 men and women from Pittsburgh, Braddock Turtle Creek, Greensburg and Latrobe were taken to North Ligonier in a special train over the Pennsylvania and Ligonier Valley railroads. The train was made up of seven cars, and all were filled before the journey's end was reached, more than half of the guests going from Pittsburgh. The majority of those attending the opening of the work were stockholders of the Colonial Coal & Coke Company, to whom the management of the company desired to show the result of the year's work, but there was also a considerable number of invited
guests.
The special train ran directly to the mine. The big party trudged up the hill to the two openings and entered a mine free from water and impure air. The work of construction has been in charge of John M. White, formerly at the head of the operations of the H. C. Frick Coke Company. Mr. White will remain as superintendent of this property, and will carry on the development of other tracts of the same company in this section.
"We have reached by drift mining the Connellsville vein of coal," said Mr. White.
"The vein is about eight feet thick and, allowing about seven inches above and below for impurities, there remains an average of about seven feet of the highest grade of coking coal. In this tract of 500 acres we have as fine a coke coal as is to be had at any place. It is free from sulphur and other injurious elements.
"Our operations here are remarkably economical. All of the hauling of loaded cars is accomplished by gravity. The mine cars from the workings to the coke ovens or the railroad tipple are operated without any artificial power of any character, and are brought back to the mine by mules. With this economy we can meet any competition."
The same company will later make additional developments of coal and other interests in Ligonier valley.
The Colonial Coal and Coke Company was formed out of the Seger coal and coke interest, and has added to that property the Glen Easton Coal & Coke Company. The Seger interest projected and in part built the Westmoreland Central railroad. A section of this line has been sold to the Ligonier Valley railroad, but other parts remain under control of the coal company, and extensions will be made to reach all the present and future property of the company.
After the party had seen the mines and ovens photographs were taken of them at the mine openings and on the tipple. There were then taken to North Ligonier.
There was no feature lacking in that sale. The party was headed on its trip to the new town by the Ligonier Silver Cornet band, blowing away "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here." The streets have been partially graded and the whole town was laid out with numbered lots. J. C. Morrow, of Pittsburgh, was there to conduct the auction. It did not require a long time to start the ball rolling rapidly, and in a couple of hours 67 lots had been disposed of at prices ranging from $90 to $250. The sales amounted to about $11,000, and gave an average value of about $160 to the lot. The majority of the lots are 50x100 feet. Practically all of the plan that was left for auction sale was disposed of.
A large number of Ligonier's population turned out to witness the sale of the new town, and a great mob followed the auctioneer's carriage and red flags over the property. The
crowning feature came at the close, when every one present was given a chance at one of the finest lots. The lucky ticket was drawn by Miss Alta Hawk, of Ligonier, and the holder of the corresponding ticket was found to be George Senft, General Manager of the Ligonier Valley Railroad.
The interest aroused throughout the Ligonier valley by the new development is unlimited. It is heralded as meaning the awakening of the section to much greater financial and industrial activity, the famous stone quarries being displaced as the main
industry of the district.
Nearly the entire official roster of the company were present and all gave every effort to explain to the other stockholders the plans which are to be carried out. The officers of the
company are as follows: President, Samuel Garrison; vice president, A. Hasner;
treasurer, A. H. Schewe; secretary, B. H. Schewe, directors, Charles Reif, Allegheny; Thomas Reynolds, McKeesport; Louis Knaube, Turtle Creek and John Seger, Ligonier, W. G. Cronkright is general manager of the company and is the active head of its affairs.