The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-16
BOOM CONTINUES.
Unprecedented Activity in the Local csal
Fisld-Rsal Estate Being Ezcha0g-
Cd for shecksls.
SPLENDID OPPORTUNITIES FoR INVEST
xEET.


When General Prosperity established
q headquarters in this county -.wo years
ago even the most opfiomistic were un-
prepared TO believe that be would create
such stir as has since been witnessed,
and which promises 70 continue until
Somerset county takes rank among the
leading mineral and coal producing coun-
ties of Pennsylvania. While Somerset
is somewhat removed from the localities
where developments are being made,
nevertheless this town is perhaps the
best point in the county from which to
view the marvellous strides that have
and are being made 70 develop our natu-
Tal resources and place them on the
market
Every deal that has or viii be con-
summsted must naturally come 70 ligh.
here where the final transactions become
matters Of court and public record. Many
impending large deals, as a matter Of
course, are kept ia the background and
as far as possible under cover until all OF
the details have been thoroughly worked
out, but sufficient light has already been
shed TO show that some Of the biggest
transactions in coal and mineral lands
are yet to be made public.
Dozens of strangers visit the court
house every day fn- the purpose Of max
ing abstracts Of the public records, run
ming oown titles OF pieces OF real estate
or leaving deeds 70 be recorded. In fact
the Recorder of Deeds is kept so busy
receiving and entering deeds alone that
be has little time for anything else. As
an. Illustration Of the work doing In Reg
ister and Recorder Shafer's Office it is
only necessary to state that during the
months of January, February, March
and April of this year 9Os deeds were
entered OF record. This is larger num-
Der than were entered in an entire year
in the Register and Recorders Office ten
years ago.
But the Recorders Office is not the only
busy place about town, nor is it the only
place where an idea can be formed Of the
transfers being made daily in real estate
and mineral rights. The offices of a
number of well known attorneys are
crowded throughout office hours and
often until late In the night by parties
who are interested il the deals being
made, aud who are anxious to have the
titles of their lands aud minerals perfect
ed in order that they can exchange them
for money. The rush has been so great
at the offices of number of attorneys
that stenographers and copyists have
been called into requisition.
Other busy places are the banking in
stitutions, where farmers who have dis
posed Of their lands are opening ae-
counts. 1t is reported that $4,000 was
paid out during the past two weeks by
one syndicate, who have purchased a
large tract Of coal land north of this place.
This sum is only a small fraction of the
amount Of money the same syndicate
viii pay over to the owners of the tract
during the coming few weeks.
Meanwhile dozens of engineer corps
are surveying in all sections of the coun-
ty. drillers with diamond drills are busi-
ly engaged boring holes hundreds of feet
under the surface in order that their en-
ployers may have correct knowledge of
tho depth and quality of the coal they
have or contemplate purchasing, and to
gain such information as will indicate
how the coal can be most advautageously
mined and shipped to market.
Where-er mines have been opened
mechan. are employed erecting dwell
ing houses, aud Judging from those we
have seen, all are being built with view
not only for the comfort of prospective
tenants. but to stand the wear and tear o
many years.
Many agents are still busily at work
taking options on coal lands that have
not already been leased or purchased
while coal operators without exception
are adding to their acreage and increas-
ing their output as rapidly as new ma
chinery and additional men can be EN-
ployed.
The Berwind White Coal Company is
now shipping 800 car loads of coal daily
and it is confidently expected that the
output from their numerous openings il
this county will reach GOO cars daily be
fore the close of another year. All of th,
operations in the Meyersdale and Berlin
fields are working to their full capacity
while these along the Somerset & Cam
bria branch were never before as busy as
at present New MINIS are being opened
along the S. & C. every few days. The
stranger who has not passed over that
line during the past year will not recog
nize the landscape when he next sees it.
Somerset is and viii continue to be the
natural commercial centre for wide
area. the population Of which has been
largely increased during the past two
years and which in all probability will
he doubled If not trebled during the
coming year. Somerset business men
have let no opportunity escape theT %
supply the demands of the augmented
are unable to meet the demand for tene-
ment houses, store rooms and business
Office. There is not a vacant store room
or Office in the town aul the HERALD
has been able 10 learn of oaly one vacant
dwelling house, pretentious family
residence-that is unoccnpied to-day.
Inquiries for store rooms aud offices are
matters of daily occurrence, notwith-
standing the big advance in rents. Here
is an opportunity for safe Investment that
should appeal to some OF our monied
men, especially To those who wish to
secure all the trade possible for Somerset.