The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-10-25
IMMENSE DEVELOPMENT.
Southern Fayette Scene of
Startling Activity.

Southern Fayette a Scene of
Startling Activity.
New Towns In Every Direetion-Smith-
field to Number 10000 In Short
Time-Iaborers Wanted by Thous-
ands--Brief Sketch Of what is Being
Done.
The following has been sent from
Smithdeld by a staff correspondent OF
the Pittsburg Times. 1t will be read
with interest by the people in this sec
tion who rejoice in the good fortune
that mas come to the people OF our
northern neighbor:
Not many years ago it was asserted
by men whose word was taken as au-
thority that Uniontown was about
the limit of the field In which mar
ketable coke could be made at prof
| it. Now Uniontown is close to the
center Of the business, and the deyel-
opment in progress will tend to bring
the whole northwest portion OF Fay
cite county into the coke making re-
gion. Southwark the production of
coke has pressed 10 Fairchance, some
of the biggest plants of the region be-
ing between Fairchance and Union
town. But of late decided activity
has broken out in the territory west
of Uniontown, and at present one OF
the most comprehensive industrial
efforts ever known In the coal regions
OF the country is in progress.
A NEW TOWN PLOTTED.
| Near Masontown new town has
been plotted, to be called Leckrone,
from the name OF the farmer who pre-
ylousIy owned the land, and the work
| is already In such a stage OF develop
ment that men are In demand beyond
the possibility OF supply. Starting
here at Smithfield, Bennett & Talbot
of Greensburg are at work on rail-
road contract Of eight miles. From
Uniontown to reach the same objec-
tive point, the Pennsylvania railroad
is pushing a new branch Of some IL
miles and is making all possible head
way, and the hope OF both is to have
iron down soon after the opening OF
the new year.
The incentive which prompts the
building of 20 miles OF new railroad is
the development which is preparing
at Leckrone, where the Eureka Fuel
company is starting the building of
| 200 new coke ovens and the ncces-
sary new town to accommodate the
people who will be required to operate
the works. AS beginning for the
town 100 houses have been planned,
and the road from Smithfield to the
town site is alive with teams hauling
lumber and building material to the
new works. At the railroad station
here this afternoon were about a doz-
en- teams taking turns at getting on
their loads, and as one departs anoth-
er arrives. The staid old town never
saw so much activity in it's life, and
can only with difficulty comprehend
the meaning OF the new conditions.
| Everybody who will work has con-
slant opportunity, and 1t is said there
is no hope of finding masous enough
to carry on the work Of building
house and coke oven foundations as
| rapidly as the contractors desire.
WHO THE INVESTORS ARE.
As it is told in Smithfield, w. J.
Rainey is to build 700 ovens in the
new territory, the Illinois Steel COM
pany 700 and the Eureka Fuel COM
pany 1900. These are to be followed
by others and by other firms who have
smaller holdings in the country to be
opened. In all it is predicted that
not less than 1900 new ovens will
| follow the construction of the two
branch railroads upon which work has
commenced AS the new community
is dozen miles from Uniontewn, the
creation of a new town Of consider
able magnitude Is certainty and
neighborhood gossip has IL that from
l.200 to 800 houses will be required
before the works are finished.
The Eureka Fuel company is build
ing what will be not only one of the
largest coke plants in the world, but
the plans are drawn for one of the
most perfect and modern in equip
ment. Electricity is to be the WISH
BILE power employed, steam operating
only the engines that afford the cur
rent. In the mines electricity will
haul the cars, drive the machinery
and furnish light. About the surface
plant electricity is to be pressed into
use wherever it can be serviceable,
and no means nor efforts will be spar
ed to create a plant that will produce
coke on the most elaborate scale, as
well as in the most economical man
ner The Eureka works will be built
to get results, and nothing that con-
tributes to that end will be spared.
The coal in the Leckrone field is
not the coal of the Connellsville vein
but the old argument concerning the
marked superiority Of the Connells-
vile bed has not been so prominent
of late, and the coal drawn from the
outer circles is going to market now
and finding an enthusiastic reception.
Perhaps there is nothing quite the
equal Of the narrow strip of Connells-
vile coal, which first gave to Con-
nellsville coke its reputation. But it
is discovered that as coke makers be-
come more familiar with the needs OF
the trade, and with the art of making
coke, coal once condemned works out
all right when it has the right kind
of treatment.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE.
Those familiar with the coke in
dustry predict that sooner or later
string OF ovens will illuminate Fay
cite county from the Youghiogheny
to the Monongahela, and from Red
stone to the West Virginia line.
From the Baltimore and Ohio road
leading to Morgantown the coal field
extends westward in Fayette county
to the Monongahela river. and in the
opinion of those presumed to know,
every pound of the coal, which is
found in splendid veins, is fit for coke.
That would indicate that from
Brownsville to Greensboro there is a
probable development ahead, and a
certain settlement of German town
ship that will make it one of the most
populous townships of Western Penn
Isylvania The money that is being
poured into German township and the
immediate vicinity is making the far
mers rich. Coal lands have been
bought and paid for recently, many
| tracts bringing as high as $15O fo 1900