The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-11-19
Colonel INTRODUCED.

Colonel introduced.
Colonel Sclloonmaker was then in
troduccd by Mr.. Mckinney. In in
PRODUCING the guest of honor Mr..
Mckinney stated that even before
West Virginia was state thousands
of men were seen going up her val
legs, crossing her hills and houn-
tains engaged in great struggle.
Among these men was Colonel
Schoonmaker ut the head Of the
Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
one OF the most noted cavalry regi-
ments in the Civil war. AS he ira
versed the entire domain of what is
now West Virginia he was at that
time impressed with the Industrial
and commercial opportunities in the
mountain state and after the strife
was over and the men who we're
engaged in this great conflict had
gh4c home and were pursuing the
arts in peace Colonel Sch0onnaker
too settled down to work. In the
years that have passed he never for
got tho great wealth that lies In
the MonongahcIa Valley to be dcvel-
oped. FairmOnt is the gateway to
this great empire of wealth. The
great dream Of Colonel Schoonmakers
life, the building OF railroad to aid
in this wonderful development, an
enterprise which he has cherished
for years is about to be accomplished.
He said that the honor guest OF the
evening was bringing to FairmOnt
something that they have been want
ing for years.
Observed Great Wealth.
Colonel SchOonmaker in his adj
dress told how in the Civil war he
had observed the great wealth that
, lies in-thc Monongahela Valley. Hav-
ing been born in Pittsburg he was
familiar with the entire valley. lie
lad never forgotten the wealth that
lies in our hills. After the war he
engaged in the coal and coke manu-
featuring. He was one Of the pion-
GERS in the manufacture Of coke In
the ConncllsviIIe field which is now
the greatest coke producing territory
in the world. As the business grew
there was Il need of new railroad
to haul the product to market. The
railroad facilities were inadequate.
He with some others incorporated
the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad
Company. The railroad companies
operating into and out of Pittsburg
thought there was no need for the
additional railroad but Colonel
Schoonmakcr and his associates pur-
sued their course. Time proved that
the Colonel was right. lie watched
the development OF the road from q
single track road into a four track
system having the heaviest tonnage
OF any railroad In the world, and do
ing the best and most paying bust
ness in the world. The success Of
the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie renewed
the hope that the Colonel had so
long cherished and kept next to his
heart for all Of these years. When
fortunes were so shaped that the
holdings of the little Kanawha Syn
dictate passed into the hands Of the
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Colonel
SchoOnmaker said to his associates
now is the time TO push our lines III
to West Virginia on to Falrmont.
He repeated this not once nor twice
but again and again. He would
bring it to the notice Of the officials
and directors of the New York Cen
trail system Of which the Pittsburg
l. Lake Erie is a part so often that
when he went to the board meetings
in New York they would say "Huh'
There comes Old West Virginia
again" Colonel Shoemaker said
that in his opinion in order to get
rid of him and his insistcncc to cS-
tend the lines Of the railroad soulhi
the officials at his invitation to come
to Fa1rmont to look over the situa-
ton. They came last June and since
then there has been increased actiV'
ity in extending the lines of the road
The Pittsburgh 4 Lake Eric is going
10 share i'll the great development
Of the MonOngahcla Valley and the
wonderful prosperity that will fol-
low. Colonel Shoemaker said that
one of the things that the New YORK
Central officials asked him was
where is your tonnage. He replied
that there is no tonnage now but
under the hills there is more coal
oil and other products than they
could conceive Of,
TyynNr NEhonET TATVc