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 19, 1900
Favors New Road
Somerset Committee Appointed To Raise $50,000
The P. W. & S. R. R. Extension
Enthusiastic Meeting At Somerset Speeches By Leading Men Money To Be Raised Many Advantages Of The Road
That the people of Somerset favor the building of a new railroad to connect with the present terminus of the Pittsburg, Westmoreland & Somerset railroad on the Laurel Hill and thus with Ligonier was fully demonstrated Tuesday evening of last week at an enthusiastic meeting held in the court house of Somerset. Many of the professional and
business men and farmers of that vicinity met to discuss the matter. The court house was filled with the wealthiest and most energetic men of the county and there was not a dissenting against the project, which is designed to shorten the route to Pittsburgh by forty miles and open up thousands of acres of coal and timber along the line of the road.
The meeting was called to order by Capt. C. J. Harrison, President of the Somerset National Bank, after which Capt. Earnest O. Koozer was chosen chairman, and J. A. Lambert of the Standard, secretary. H. E. Market, Esq., attorney for the P. W. & S. railroad was introduced and presented to the meeting the proposition of the company which is that the road shall be extended to Somerset provided Somerset county people take $50,000 of the bonds of the company.
Among the other speakers were, L. H. Allen and Capt. N. Byers, of the Byers-Allen Lumber Co., W. H. Ruppel, Esq., Chas. H. Fisher, Gen. W. H. Koontz, James McKelvy, Valentine Hay, A. W. Knepper and H. L. Baer.
Capt. C. J. Harrison made a motion which was unanimously adopted, that a committee composed of five members be appointed by the chairman to take subscriptions. This committee has since been appointed and consists of the leading men of Somerset. The three banks of Somerset have been made depositories, and an effort to have the $50,000 taken will be made at once.
There are strong indications that the bonds will be taken and the road built during the next year. The road would not only open up a valuable coal and timber section of Somerset county but bring Somerset into closer financial relation with the rest of the world and would also prove of considerable advantage to Ligonier and bring us in close business relations with Somerset county.
We quote the following in reference to the advantages of the road: "The Pittsburg, Westmoreland & Somerset Railroad Company is a company chartered under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania to construct and operate a steam railroad from Ligonier to Somerset, a distance of twenty-two miles, whose purpose originally was the carrying of timber for the Byers-Allen Lumber Company, but as the road progressed other traffic has developed, so that the prospects for this road to become a permanent and profitable investment if extended to Somerset, where it can connect with the Baltimore & Ohio at that terminus, as well as with the Pennsylvania railroad, through the Ligonier Valley railroad, at the other, are sure.
"Somerset, with a population of 2,500, is at present reached from Pittsburgh via the
Pennsylvania railroad to Johnstown, a distance of 78.2 miles, and then via the Baltimore & Ohio 35.9 miles in all 114.1 miles; or via the Baltimore & Ohio to Rockwood, 101 miles, where a change of cars is made, then over a branch of the same road, 9.2 miles, in all 110.2 miles.
"The P. W. & S. is now operating 10 miles of main road and has reached the summit of Laurel Hill. By extending it to Somerset, about 12 miles, it would reduce the distance to
Pittsburgh 41 miles as compared with the Pennsylvania route or 37 miles as compared with the B & O. One could then leave Somerset at about 6 a.m., arriving in Pittsburgh at 9:30, and return the same day, leaving Pittsburgh at 4:50 in the afternoon and arriving at Somerset at 7:45, which is not possible with the present facilities, and at a saving of $1.20 each way in fare. There are the conveniences to the traveling public, and to those desiring quick express and mail.
"The earning capacity of this road, if completed, is, first, there is at the least calculation 200,000,000 feet of timber to which it would be tributary; a large part of this the Byers-Allen Lumber Company will take out as fast as possible. Second, the undeveloped coal supply, which must find a market and which would be developed at once if there was adequate means of transportation. This coal territory embraces at least 30,000 acres, and is underlaid with three workable veins of good, marketable bituminous coal varying in thickness from 4 to 7 feet. Third, there are large veins of bluestone, which is used in Pittsburgh exclusively for block pavements, by the railroads for ballast, and by contractors in building boulevards. Fourth, in the Laurel Hill, and on the lands of the Byers-Allen Lumber Company, there are large veins of good sand rock, which is used by the glass manufacturers for their products, and by the railroads for their locomotives; that on the Byers-Allen Lumber Company's land lies close to a good water supply and can be easily and cheaply quarried. Fifth, on the line of the road there are large deposits of fireclay, limestone and silica rock, all of which can find ready market. Sixth, the country between the top of Laurel Hill and Somerset is a very good dairy and farming country, the natural market for which is Pittsburgh. It is reasonably safe to assume that the region through which the road runs is capable of supplying sufficient local traffic to more than maintain fixed charges, which the development of the coal fields, limestone, glass and, fireclay and timber heretofore practically inaccessible will furnish a source of revenue that assures large earnings in excess of fixed charges."