Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-02-10
No.. 13

incursions of the Indians, it being the only
resting place of any Importance east of the
Notifications at Pittsburg. Two miles north
Of the village of Ligonier stands relic of the
house of General Arthur ST. Clair, where the
Generl lived until his death in the present
century.
In time village sprang up around the
ruins of the Old Fort, and became a stage
station when the first stock was put upon
the "Pittsburg, Stoystown and Chambersburg
Turnpike" and when the great bulk of the
travel from the Southwest went this way to
Philadelphia and New York
Here, :only forty years ago, the drivers
cracked their whips over their six-in-hands
and wakened the echoes among the silent
hills by their mellow horns" as q welcome
nodded and dozed on their weary way to the
Capital Of the Nation. 1t is left to but few
of us to remember Colonel Noah Mandell,
who kept this stage station and ran the Man
dell house forty years ago, when his speckled
trout, stewed chickens, waffles and hot
punches were celebrated among all travellers
and stage men. This house is centrally To-
Gated, being SO miles from Pittsburg SO miles
from Bedford and 100 from Chambersburg.
The happy faculty Of Colonel Noah in serving
meals and drinks to the travelling public
was largely shared by most Of the tavern
keepers On this route, and which was a neces-
II.
wards made the stations on the g National
Road" so famous for their good cheer.
Ligonier is no longer q stage station, but
the terminus of the Ligonier Valley railroad,
connecting with the Pennsylvania Central at
Latrobe, "a great railroad centre, 40 miles
from Pittsburg; neither is it the rendezvous
OF the several stage proprietors who contend
ed with Waugh, Mendell and Graham in
carrying passengers and the United States
mails. Nor does the Glassner House furnish
meals to Presidents and Congressman who
once frequented its salons in the early days,
yet, under the direction of its present pro-
prietor, John HssKxank, a. prince Of -4nvtel-
keepers, it is now famous for it's elegant ac-
commodatiOns for summer tourists who seek
this mountain retreat A very few of the
old .ehus who threw their lashes over the
early stage teams remain to tell the dangers
OF the road, or relate how Henry Clay and
old Tom Ewing looked and talked when pas
sengers beside the driver. Many have gone
to their "home-station," and but three, John
Richie, Billy Lowry, and John Mitchell re-
main to answer all aboard on their last
drive.
By o'clock in the afternoon otir party of
forty couple were comfortably tucked in,
with numerous " hot bricks" some singing
Home, sweet Home" others We won't 90
home till morning." and before dark termin-
ated most delightful old-fashioned sleigh
ride.
But what came of it, is left to be told in
the conclusion arrived at, while I, as an idle
spectator, viewed the rich valleys and numer-
GUS coal mines Of Westmoreland county. AL
though wheat growing country, this West
ern Pennsylvania is all underlaid with coal
eedu NAlSA " NC uCFC1OPCu, Will NS1y SOOu
be threaded and crossed with railroads, tun-
nels and coke ovens, until agriculture will no
longer be the occupation Of the people who,
to the manor born," must as clear business
proposition, sell their coal and wheat lands
and "go west," where neither clouds ofsmoke
nor mining interests will prevent the cult
walton of the soil. This whole country is un-
dergoing the change which will soon makeit
a mining, instead of a farming country-the
home of the sturdy miner, instead of the
home of the well-to-do farmer. Those who
farm the high priced lands of Western Penn
sylvania cannot compete with the low priced
lands of the West, and ifthey remain farmers
they must seek new homes and new farms;
for the coming generation who can go West
are financially in better condition than they
who stay here. If Montana, with its rich
valleys, productive soil and healthful climate
could be brought properly to the notice of
these people, the fair lands of the Rocky
Mountains would never know a better immi-
grafton than the eminent farmers of old
Westmoreland. VIATOR.