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Linns History of Centre and Clinton Co, page 244
"Early in 1873 some of Bellefonte's leading capitalists agitated the project of establishing at Bellefonte works for the manufacture of railway cars. In May of the year mentioned the Bellefonte Car Manufacturing Company was organized, tinder the general manufacturing act, wi th a chartered capital of one hundred thousand dollars. D. G. Bush was chosen president, and with Messrs. Edmund Blanchard, George C. Wilkins, S. A. Brew, and John Strike constituted the first board of directors. E. M. Blanchard was chosen secretary. May 24th the president and directors resigned, and in their places were chosen William McClellan as president, A. G. Curtin, vice-president; and Edmund Blanchard, E. C. Humes, George C. Wilkins, and D. G. Bush as additional directors. Upon the purchased site stood the Blanchard planing-mill, operated by a splendid water-power, then the property of Mr. D. G. Bush. The planing-mill was purchased as the nucleus of the car-works, and work upon time erection of the latter at once begun. They were constructed of brick, and supplied with perfect appointments, at an aggregate cost of about eighty thousand dollars. The water-power was ultimately donated to the company by Mr. Bush, and in addition to that gift the people of Bellefonte gave the company a bonus of ten thousand dollars in money. John McClellan was engaged as superintendent of the works, and active operations, with a force of about forty men, begun in the fall of 1873. Before work was fairly under way financial and business depression overtook the country, and affected time progress of the car-works at Bellefonte to such an extent that there was a total suspension before a single car had been completed. The property finally fell into the hands of ex-Governor Curtin, who sold them to William Lawson, an English capitalist, whose representative, Miller Tiffin, caused the manufactory to be put into service at once. Mr. Law was called to take charge as general superintendent and practical manager, and in a little time the works resounded with the busy hum of lively industry. The first important work was in filling a contract with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for five hundred freight cars, the only kind made at the establishment. The standing investment of capital in the works as at present fashioned reaches one hundred thousand dollars. About eleven acres of ground are occupied. There are three brick buildings of one story each, one brick building of two stories, and one framed building of two stories. Time force of men now employed aggregates one hundred and seventy-five, and the present capacity six cars daily. A water-wheel of one hundred horse-power and a steam-engine of seventy-five horse-power are depended upon to drive the machinery.
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