The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-08-29
WELSH IN WEST VIRGINIA.
what Correspondent Writes Concern

what correspondent WRITES CONCERN |
Ing Proposed Colony.
Daring the last few years several Welsh |
people of this state have been interested in |
farming, timber and coal lands in West |
Virginia. They have bought alreudy |
several thousand acres in Randolph, |
Upsher and Webster counties. A COM
pany was formed for the purp SO of mining |
the coal and manufacturing and pre- pairing |
the lumber for market. The company
has two large saw mills which have been in
operation for some time The Pittsburg 81
West Virginia X. r.. passes within half a
mile OF some of their land. This railroad
comes from Pittsburg and is now com
pletod AS far as Plckins, new town sew
era miles beyond the Welsh colony, and
which is to be the terminus at present at
least OF the above road.
A town site has been marked out of
about 20 acres, and which is three miles or
so from the track of the above road All
of the lots have been sold to build homes
and other purposes.
The men interested in the project intend
to connect the town with the main line by
narrow gusge railroad for the present
This road will enable all there to bring
their lumber to market for one.fourth
what it would cost them otherwise Also
it will give them access to the different
veins of coal already found in different
sections.
| Last July two men, Isaac Smith, of Oly-
phant, and Mstthew Perkins, of Shenan-
doah, alec the president of the company,
and Rev. d. S. Thomas, of Edwsrdsville,
Pa, we're down in West Virginia nearly
/ the whole month, investigating matters and
msking further tests for coal and other
mineral. 1t seems these men had done
their work very thoroughly and their
reports were complete and encouraging
They discovered some new veins of coal
and reported excellent market for lumber
with good prices. Some kind of lumber
which two years ago was not considered Of
much value, is now much called for and
brings good price. Many we're glad to
hear this, since they had bought land with
nearly all the other kinds sold on it.
A meeting was held at Wilkes Barre a
few days ago to hear the reports of these
men, ard parties were present from Nanti-
coke. Shenandoah, Scranton, Warrior
Kun. Plymouth, Wilkes Barre, Edwards
dale, etc. After listening to the reports a
railroad company was formed, called the
Welsh Colony r. r. Co., to build and
operate the road to connect the town OF
Arvon with the main line of the p. & w.
Va, Il r. This new branch has already
been surveyed and the grading has been
commenced. This will be of great benefit
to ali the Welsh people having land in that
section of the country. Knowing the value
of this, no doubt the individuals interested
there will soon take up the stock.
This company is officered for the pres
ent by the same men as the Manu-.
featuring & Building Company. Welsh
people who possess no land there may take
shares in the railroad company but not any
more in the building company. There il
no doubt as to the future of Arvon and
this whole section occupied by the Welsh,
once their town is connected with the road
from Pittsburg. Already new enterprises
ARE spIlugluB up hll over, vi COuTs6 tue
greatest attention at present is given to the
lumber business, but among others, the p
& w. Va. r. r. Co., is just now moving
after the coal. They have some men test
ing the veins that are above water level
and others are drilling TO prove the veins
below it, In consequence of this the price
of land has advanced all around there.
1t appears that the Welsh people go
into the country in the nick of time. They
are asking to-day three times the amount
per acre than they did two years ago, anG
for some much more. All this has beer
brought about by the better facilities o
taking the wealth Of the country to market
TIE value of the land in the possession o
Welsh people there has advanced greatly
already, and will advance much NOR,
when their branch road will be completed
to Arvon. Those who have any interes
whatever in this section should mark care
fully the signs of the times and watch tht
tide as IL rises w II ID