The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-11-23
CLEARFIELD COAL LANDS.
Mr.. Vanderbilt Purchases $4,000 Acres
and Builds a Railroad
[Philadelnhin Press. ]

Snowshoe region has been known as
coal producing for forty years or more,
and for long time people of the sur
rounding country were accustomed to
come in sleighs In winter for their coal.
Many years ago the region was tapped
by railroad from Tyrone which con
nected at that point with the Pennsyl-
| vania and afterwards the Bald Eagle
Valley Railroad was built. A large
amount Of capital was put into the
| mines, but it was not until 1867 that
any amount of coal was supplied.
Since then shipments have increased
until last year they were more than
100000 tons, and they might have
easily been 4,C00, 900 tons had the rail
road facilities been sufficient.
Early in the year Mr.. Vanderbilt, in
pursuance of systematic attempt to
get foothCld in the bituminous re-
gions of Pennsylvania, began to look
at Clearfield county lands. He took
into his council Senator Wallace, of
Ciearfeld, and ex-senator Peale, of
Lock Haven, who made purchases of
lands for him. The whole matter was
personally supervised by General Ma
gee, who has already large interests in
the coal regions of the northern tier of
counties in this State, and is one of
Mr.. Vandcrbilt's most intimate busi-
ness friends. The land purchased
amounts to 33, 200 acres. 1t is situated
| in the heart of the Clearfield region,
west and northwest of the Snowshoe
and other districts, and is located along
the line of the proposed railroad which
is now being built, known as the
Clearfield and Western, the charter
for which Mr.. Wallace controlled and
which Mr.. Vanderbilt now owns.
MIR. vANDERBILT'S INTENTIONS.
1t is well known that Mr.. Wander
bilt acquired the charter for the Pine
Creek and Jersey Shore road from the
Reading Railroad last year, and that
he has been rapidly pushing that road
from the mines of Tioga county in the
direction Of Williamsport. This road
will tap the Philadelphia and Erie at
Jersey Shore and it is at this point that
the Clearfield and Western Railroad
begins. 1t runs through Clinton and
Cleartield counties directly through
the Snowshoe district and up Clear
field creek and Little Clearfeld creek
and thence to PunXsutawney in Jeffer-
son county or southwest to Johnstown
on the Pennsylvania road where con-
necton will be made with the Balti-
more and Ohio's line from the Con-
nellsviile coal region. This road runs
through the richest coal lands in Clear
field, and its owners have picked up
choice pieces of property all along the
route. The project means not only
the further devolopement of the Clear
field region, but it will give Mr.. Van
derbilt line into region in which
the Pennsylvania has never been
disturbed, and through and short
connection with the coal fields
of the southwestern part of the
State. Mr. Vanderbilt expects to ship
3 900 900 tons annually from the Clear
field region alone. Atpresent SEQ men
are working on the new road at points
which the company wish to get COM
pIpte possession of. The contract for
buiiding the road is in the hands of
the Collins Brother, the well-knoWn
railroad builders. Some of the pur-
al, al, a., l., al inrht Il
for this Sl5 per acre was paid. 1t is
expected the road will he in complete
running order during the year 1884.
The effect of this will be to cut into
the tonnage of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road somewhat, but Mr.. Vanderbilt's
lire VIII have sufficient business from
his own coal lands fhe ships anything
like 8, 900 coo tons per annum, to make
it pay largely as railroad, without
trespassing on the business of the
Pennsylvania. The object of Mr..
Vanderbilt and General Mugee is mn
doubtedly to get control Of the bitum-
inous coal market of Eastern New
York. The cities of Troy and Albany
consume a large quantity of coal, and
there is a big trade in Western Massa-
chusetts. Coal from the Clearlield re-
gion has interfered with General Ma
gee in his operations, as it is ofa better
quality than that ofthe mines of Tioga
and Bradford counties, and brings
something like twenty-five cents per
ton more in market. Aside from this
it is a purely business speculation and
will 10 doubt be paying one.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST PENNSYLVA-
MA
There has been considerable COM
plaint among the shippers of the Clear
field region at the want of facilities of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Cars are
always scarce, and the large operators
have trouble to fill their orders. One
firm this year offered bonus of $50
per car for thousand cars, in order to
be able to make their shipments
promptly, but they were not able to
fill their contract and We're compelled
to buy Cumberland coal in the New
York market for delivery.
The interest that Senator Wallace
takes in this project may be inferred
from the fact that he made the build
ing of new lines into his section an
issue in his late cOmpaign for senator,
and on the stump he promised the
people that they should have greater
facilities for the transportation of coal, =,
lumber and the other products of his
section of the State. Heretofore Mr..
Wallace has been closely identified
with distnctively Pennsylvania in
stitutions, and his new departure is
quite significant.
Meantime the Pennsylvania Rail-
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