The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-01
THE COKE COUNTRY.
Som cthiDg About fayette County aud
Railroad Connection with Wheeling.

prints tho following: Although century
old, 1t has not been until within very
few years that any considerable progress
has been made in developing .Fayette
county's great wealth. The rise Of tho coke
industry marks u notable era in It's history,
The coke basin, extending from about Ia.
trobc, In Westmoreland county, 10 the
southern part Of Fayette, presents hive Of
industry such US is rarely seen III the same
extent Of territory. Nearly 10000 ovens
now dot this region, having a capacity Of
1000 ears OF coke per day: This
industry, together with tho iron fur.
naces, Of which there arc four, in
Fayette county, gives rice TO nm
enormous freight traffic from these two
counties. There is considerable activity in
railroad circles in this county nowadays
The railroad companies have been aiming
to extend their lines 80 rs to keep pace
with the rapid development of the coke
andi iron industries. The direction Of his
development Is southwark toward the
West Virginia line, which Slate touches
tayette on tue south. 1t has not been long
since there were no coke works as far
south in this county as Uniontown, but
now there arc. several different works.
with hundreds Of ovens in opcru.
tion and many others in progress OF ercc.
ton. The rivalry among the competing
lines OF railway to share the heavy profits
OF the coke carrying traffic has led 10 great
activity IN the construction and extension
OF lines. An idea Of the extent OF This traf.
llc may be gained from the fact that dur.
ing theweek Just closed the Pennsylvania
road alone carried $4,000 tons OF coke, with
Il still larger amount Of coal. And this ion
at a time when cars are so scarce that ihe
transportation is not nearly equal TO the
actual capacity.
.r2s RAILROAD FACILITIES. ..u
The three main lines are the t,ennsvlva.
nia the Baltimore 4 Ohio, and Vandcrbilt's
Pittsburgh, McKeesport 4 Youshiogheuy.
The Pennsylvania and the Baltimore 4
Ohio roads have been occupying the terri.
tory for some lime, extending their lines
and branches TO suit the demands of the
coke trade. They have SO far had tho
monopoly OF the coke and coal traffic. Inf
third rival is now rapidly heading into
the heart Of the coke region OF Favette
county. This is the redoubtabJe Yander.
bllt. IN addition to the roads above men.
TONED lhe South Pennsylvania, concerning
which but little is known except that +
seems to be direct line from liarrisbur"
70 Wheeling, is also surveyed so MS to pass
through and get II slice Of the coke trade.
4 NEW ROUTE To WEST VIRGINIA.
With Fayette SO well covered with nct.
work Of railways and the development n
tue coke trade moving South, attention is
now being turned toward the rich coal and
iron beds Of West Virginia. This is giving
rise to movements looking toward railroad
connection between Pennsylvania and
West Virginia. Virginia is rich in miner.
ais, but isyet practically untouched. 4
project is on foot to constructs Il road known
as the West Virginia & Pennsylvania Faif.
road, to extend from Clarkshurr yia NIcr-
gantown 10 the Pennsylvania 1.-Two
being down the MoponpabeJo ~,
or valley 10 Fuyettc conntv ,rho l
road would pass through Harrison. Marian nu
and Monongalia counties, West Vimin;a
Harrison has voted 100000 10 the csnitai
stock, Marion $la0,OOo, and Aiononpai;a, ,
county chilled the enterprise by voting Inst Inst
June on i proposition to subscribe aiso IIa,
$l5o,o0o and defeated it, the vote beinv 'ov
only thlrty'two short Of the necessary threas.
fifth in total poll Of $3.50. Another % man
has been devised which, it is thought, viii will
give satisfaction 10 all parts oi that col,ntv m'
and the court has ordered that Monon';a,,
Liz county vote ulain on IL proposition to
raise Sl!a00D, the election 10 be held IN
the A0th Of December next, If onr
next door neiglbors vote in favor OF tho u,
road, as it is now believed they will Il
will open new era for that State. The
object is to connect at the State line With
some road that will meet it from Fayette
county: Which one Of the rival roads now @
struggling to outwit each other hero viii viii
first make break toward West Virrinia m ia
but it is thought that Il Viii he
the Pennsylvania company, as thcy now
hold the advantage over one now hea,l;n"
in that direction. The near future promises
70 witness still further interesting railroads
in Fayette county. 3'F,S" '' '