SCHEDULE 14A

                                 (RULE 14a-101)


                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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                            WESTMORELAND COAL COMPANY
                            -------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

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Dear Fellow Shareholders:

We have achieved another important milestone in our drive to enhance shareholder
value. On Friday, April 16, 1999, I had the pleasure of ringing the opening bell
at the American Stock Exchange  ("AMEX"),  where, at 11:30 a.m.,  Westmoreland's
Common Stock and Depositary  Shares began  trading.  Enclosed is a press release
which  announced  the  relisting  of our  stock  on  this  long-standing,  major
exchange.  Our new trading  symbols are WLB and WLB.pr for the Common  Stock and
Depositary Shares, respectively.

Acceptance for listing is confirmation of the market's growing confidence in the
Company.  Listing on the AMEX should have a number of important benefits for you
and the Company:

o         As an auction market,  the AMEX relies upon specialists to help assure
          a fair,  orderly and liquid  market in the  Company's  stock.  We have
          selected one of the top  specialist  firms on the AMEX, AGS Specialist
          Partners, to fill this important role for Westmoreland.

o         Listing  gives  the  Company  increased  visibility  in the  financial
          markets and the business community generally.

o         Listing provides you and other  interested  parties an easy and widely
          available means for tracking the Company's stock performance.

The listing was made possible in part by the successful  completion of the basic
restructuring  phase of our turnaround plan and the Company's  return to a solid
financial  footing.  Combined with other  significant  recent events such as the
opportunistic  sale of the  Rensselear  Power  Project at a  substantial  profit
(thanks to our successful  negotiations with the UMWA Retiree Funds to free this
asset from Coal Act liabilities),  and completion of our tender offer for nearly
half of the  Depositary  Shares,  relisting of the Common  Stock and  Depositary
Shares  demonstrates  our commitment to delivering the highest value possible to
you,  our  shareholders,  whenever  and  wherever  possible.  We look forward to
continuing this pursuit on your behalf.

Just in case you have not yet  returned  your white proxy card for the  upcoming
shareholders'  meeting, we have enclosed another one with this letter. Your vote
is very  important.  Please  take a moment to sign the card in  support  of your
Company and return it in the enclosed postage paid envelope.

Sincerely,

/s/ Christopher K. Seglem
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    Christopher K. Seglem
    Chairman of the Board -- President and CEO