Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-22
LETTER FROM ROANOKE.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Ga

whose population numbered between four
and five hundred, the occupations of which
were chiefly farming and the industries
growing out of the tobacco traffic.
At present it is place Of unusual prom
Use, it having increased its population TO
more than seven thousand and its indus
tries correspondingly as great, thereby max
ing it promise to be Nirginia's second N"r
folk, il not her first city.
Besides the extensive works Of the Roam.
oke Machine Company there ar. the Gao.
zier Steel Works, four tobacco l,clollr-
two wal ehouses, sash and box fu.to,l~
planning mills and number of other mann.
factories on a smaller scale
About two years ago the ShrlIund,,,h
Valley Railroad made this its sou hrr., H.,
minus in connection with the Norfolk and
Western, formerly the A., NJ. Il @. Raj.
road, and that together with the enrr.rii,,
efforts and good advances of the "LicA
people, Roanoke owes its present and proh
ably future prosperity. 1t has, un,iuuh.
eddy, many advantages both as Il hu>u..,,
centre and as resort for tourists. Located
ut an elevation of 900 feet above the 49,,
level, in most delightful and hra|!u,
country, in splendid, rich. growing grain.
growing and cattle grazing region. aud
IN the vicinity, within easy reach OF VAST
and inexhauslable beds of rich, useful ORES.
The place or rather city" is supplied with
modern convenienCes, such rs hotels, stores
gas and water, etc. The water works are
situated about mile from the town and
the supply is ineXhaustlble while the water
is pure, cool and very healthy The gas is
made from Pochahontas coal and dislrlbu
ted at small outlay
The demand for religious and secular ed
ucaton is we'll supplied, there being eight
churches: Presbyterian (2l, Methodist l2l.
Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist and Roman
Catholic, two public and several private
schools and one NJ. +. college for young la.
dies. And, too, your scribe had the plea.
sure of counting twenty-six bar-roonls
how many more we are not disposed TO say
The Roanoke machine works is we'll worm
q visit. This company manufactures loco
motives and freight cars, employing up
wards Of eight hundred men, and it is said
that their capacity is ten freight cars per
day and three locomotives per month. Not
wthstanding the short while the works have
been established, it is said that they can
compete with the older locomotive and car
works, aud also that they are not confined
to the manufacture for the n. x W. orS.
Y. Roads, but for other roads. Last June
they turned out ten wheel fifty ton con
solidation engine that went Immediately
into service Of the n & W., giving most
results.
The capacity of the Crozier steel works l.
one hundred tons per working day. The
ores are obtained from adjacent countics
and the steel is said to be first class in every
respect.
The town contains large number of
stores. some OF which are mammoth and
the stock is very great. The Norfolk and
Western and Shenandoah Valley Roads
have their offices here. 1t is very barge
aud attractive building, of Queen Anne
style of architecture and accommodates 80
clerks.
There are two very fine hotels, also many
more on a smaller scale. The former are
The principal aud are called the River Park
hotel and Hotel Roanoke. The former is
:iluated in a beautiful grove in the central
portion of the town and commands bcau-
Litul northern view The table is well sup
piled with what the markets will afford and
while the beauty OF the place comedies with
he polite attendants and pleasant accom-
modatious it makes it the most de. irahl,.
place for the tourist is we'll ns the invalid.
n fact all who desire a comfortable stop
ping place in beautiful region. The lat
,er, Hotel Roanoke, is also beautifully stu
,ted upon hill in the eastern section of the
own and overlooks the country for man,
niles. This hotel we dare say is ono
If the finest in the South. The stu
alton is beaut full, surrounded by beau
iful lawns, fountains and flowers, he
building elegant and attractive: bcun
quilt i'll Queen Anne style Of arrhl.
ecture, handsomely furnished and completes
II all its details. It's cnjsinr is suited to i'll!
he wants of even the most instidious ami
,he society is refined and elegant, while ile
clerks and attendants lack nothing i'm the
shape Of worth or poIiteness. This house is
owned and managed by the same parties as
the well known "l.uray Inn" and its capa-
city is about two hundred and fifty
For the tourist, we should think no place
for headquarters TO those visiting Rluc
Ridge, Coyner's, Roanoke, Red and Whit"
sulphur Springs, the Bald Knob, Peaks OF
Otter or Natural Bridge, is better adapted
han Roanoke. The railroad compai,i.-
nave very handsome and commodio,is STA.
ions, and the cottages and surrounding
within the town are extremely beautiful a
we'll as comfortable.
1t is always quite lively up here, thonsh
t is said, net quite as much so at present
Ls during other seasons. 1t was, however.
so yesterday. John Robinson
circus was the topic upon which every one
eemed exercised. Hundreds of comntr,
people came from the adjacent coun.ie-
within a radius of forty miles for the pur.
,ose of attending the big show The rail
oads brought an immense throng. Some
'ame by foot, some by OK carts and vehicles
VI various kinds, and it was great sight to
/ stranger to notice them. The circus
eems to have delighted all and carried
Iway good many sheckel also.
In regard to politics, well, there is not
much said 1t seems as if the votes were
,retty well divided. The democrats are
oniident of Grover Cleyeland's election,
While the republicans seem to have hopes
f carrying the State for Mr.. Blaine.
The town has city court. The mayor.a
orthern man, was elected not exactly a
MEMBER of either party, and the, covern-
lent is carried on to the best interests Of
ne place.