Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-07-01
From Roanoke. Va.
Eds. Tndependent j.:

Having heard so much OF the
rapid and increasing growth OF
Roanoke, and its commercial adj
Vantages, | determined to visit
the place and see if the hal that
bad been told was true. About
qhe middle of May | came here
and il took but a lance to cause
man searching for business
opening, TO exclaim Eureka So
I at once made up my mind to
cast my destiny here, in this
growing town. That the boom
was not a mushroom one, | was
convinced by the fact that ] saw
that Roanoke was not only head
quarters for the Norfolk and West
tern railroad where all the ma
chine and repair shops are to be
located but Is the terminus Of the
Shenandoah Valley railway,
which runs through one Of the
richest countries, not only IN the
State, but in the Union This
road gives Roanoke direct COM
mfrcial connection with Balti-
more and Phiiadelphia-an ad-
vantage worth having Besides
this the whole 0f the products Of
the vast interior Of the rich Sou -
western counties can be emptied
into the Baltimore and Pailadei-
uhia markets. Baltimore mer-
chatts are al this writing arrang-
Ing 70 get this trade, much Of
which formerly sought a market
Ia Lynchburg and Richmond, but
now will be brought by the Nor
Io!k & We-tern railway TO Roam
oke, and from thence over the
Shenandoah road TO Baltimore,
via HagerstOWn.
MECHANICAL WORKS.
one cannot but be pleased when
visiting Roanoak, to observe the
almost increditable rapidity with
which mechanical buildings are
being re.ted The Shenandoah
Railroad Company are pushing to
completion handsome station
and restaurant, which is to be
steam heated. A round house,
car house and mammoth car and
machine shops are being built
The works alone will employ one
thousand w0rkmen and have or
ders now for a large amount Of
rolling stock.
The Roanoke Land and I'M
pr0Yement Company have nearly
complicated a hotel 10 cost $40, 900.
This company have also erected
one hundred and five fve-room
houses, which they sell for 81 800,
on five years time, requiring a
cash payment OF 500 This COM
DanY owns 200 acres of land,
which they are selling ofTin build
ing lot. Mr. Chas. Hacker, the
President of this company, seems
10 be u ing his best enGeavOrs to
promote the interest Of Roanoke
Beside ine above mentioned en-
terprises, the Grocer Steel and
Iron Work., a company vita il
cash capital Of $1,000 600 are erect
ing q large furnace at the june
u0u OF the railroads. This fur
mace i, capable u turning out 125
sous OF pig iron per day. The coal
10 run the furnace will be obtain
ed from .he coal deposits at New
River, which has been pronounced
equal 60 the COnuelsViile coke. On
Cripple Creek, this company owns
vast Oto deposits, from which the
best Bessiner steel can be made.
At Cl0verdale, furnace in BOte-
tort county, this company is pro-
curing the best magnetic ore All
OF these mines are under the sup
erVisiOu of the President, Col. ID.
f. FoustoU.
Bear in mind, Messrs. Editors,
that these works are not i'm pros
pect but all nearly Completed.
Besides these, Thomas q Jani-
son aave a large spoke and han
die factory. ana KefaWver & Sou
factory and planning mill TIE
manufacture Of tobacco also COM
mand the attention of our people
there being eight firms engaged
in this business.
WATER POWER
Oae Of the most important
thlugs 10 the prosperity OF a city
isil5 water power. In this respect
Roanoke is fortunate. She has a
water rOWer with capacity of
4.C00 gallons a minute.
CANNING FACTORIES.
Ihe canning d, fruits and gege-
tables, Is large, remuueratiug
and important industry here. Mi.
James G.. MOOns3W aud Mr..
Christian Munger have put up the
product Of 50 acres yield OF Eng
lish peas.
BUSINESS CHANCES.
TO an who are in search of bust