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!
Latrobe Bulletin
Friday, March 7, 1913
Connellsville Capital Is Now Interested In Ligonier Valley
Connellsville capitalists are interested in the new coking developments in the Ligonier Valley of the Upper Connellsville region, involving an investment of approximately $250,000 says the Weekly Connellsville Courier, this morning.
Rockwell Marietta has purchased 134 acres of coal north of Wilpen and near to the plant of the Marietta-Stillwagon Coal & Coke Company, of which he is president and manager. Engineers are now on the ground laying out the ovens, coal tipple and railroad sidings. The company will build about a mile of track to connect its plant with the Ligonier Valley railroad. The plant will consist of 80 ovens. It will be rushed to completion as rapidly as possible, and in the meantime the coal will be opened. The coal is drift coal and self-draining, the cheapest coal to operate known in mining circles. The
coal is very soft and easily mined. Machines will not be necessary in the pit. The ovens will be of the beehive pattern and will be equipped with mechanical leaders. The pattern has not yet been determined. The coal is from 7 to 9 feet in thickness and analyzes less than 1 per cent sulfur, making an excellent coke.
The price paid for the property averaged over $1,100 per acre, making the coal stand the company about $150,000. A year ago it could have been purchased at less than $450. The discovery that Connellsville coal was getting very scarce induced the owners to mark up the price. The company to operate this coal has not yet been formally organized, but it will be separate and apart from the Marietta-Stillwagon company.
The Marietta-Stillwagon Coal & Coke Company was organized some years ago by R. Marietta and the late Clair Stillwagon. It operated 40 ovens. Its coal is also drift and
self-draining. Of its original purchase it has but about 16 acres remaining. To this it has added 30 acres by recent purchase, making 46 acres in all, which it is estimated will supply the plant during its life. This company has been operating full for some time past and has its product sold ahead on contract at liberal prices.