Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-14
THE TESTIMONY OF ONE
WHO KNOWS.
FROM A HAMLET TO A CITY.
What Colonel Austin Saw In 1881
The Rapid Growth Of R0ane Ike
Since That Time -Destined
to BE Large City.

| dent OF the Roanoke Land ana I'M
proyement company. Colonel Austin
came from Europe in 1881 to accept
the presidency of the company. and
after remaining here till 1885 resigned
the position and returned to London,
where he now resides. He has just
been to Florence, Alabama, and
stopped here few days to see his old
friends while on his way back to
London, for which place he left last
night with the expectation of return
ing to this country next spring, when
he will OF course pay Roanoke visit.
During his stay here he stopped at
Hotel Roanoke. and it was at that
popular public resort that the TIMES
man met him yesterday evening.
Colonel Austin is large, handsome
man apparently about SIS years old.
He wears the proverbial English side
whiskers, which are iron gray in
color, and there is charm about his
manner and conversation which at
once wins the confidence and good
will of all who come in contact with
him.
Colonel" said the reporter, you
know as much about the early history
of Roanoke as anybody, and | would
like to know what you think OF it's
future prospects. Judging by what it
was when you left it some years ago."
II think Roanoke has a bright
future before It," said the colonel.
You have here all the elements of
success, and there is no reason why
the city should not in a few years
have population of $4,000 or 10000.
when came here in 1881 all this
portion of the city, including the spot
on which Hotel Roanoke now stands,
was a wheat field. There were only
400 people here then, all located on or
near Commerce street, and the place
was known as Big Lick. Work for the
erectiC:c Of the shops had just COM
menced, ano>ts.he Shenandoah Valley
railroad had not then been COM
pleted. Where the shop now stand
there was a ridge in the mlust If a
sort OF swamp. This ridge was
blasted away and the ground leveled
for the sites OF the shop buildings.
There was not single house between
Hotel Roanoke and Mr.. Terry's house
on the hill, in the southern part OF
the city, and the changes which have
taken place since then are wonderful
indeed. l always had faith in the
,ture of this city-indeed knew
that the completion Of the machine
works and the Shenandoah Valley
railroad meant population OF 5000
or 5000. We purchased 400 acres at
the price of SAT an acre. After that
we bought the Terry farm OF 600
acres, then thirty acres from a man
named Smith, then thirty acres, in
Guiding the spring, which we
used for a. water supply to
the city, from Mr.. McClana,,
han, for which we paid
$500. In two years we built about
200 houses, among the first erected
being Hotel Roanoke and the Nor
folk and Western Office building. The
preliminary work was difficult, but
the town grew rapidly from the first.
When l left here, however, the city
was at standstill, and it was hard to
say whether it was going backwards
or forwards.
do you think, Colone'3 Gpat JIG
Roanoke and Southern will be OF
great benefit to this city when COM
pleted?" asked the reporter.
II do most undoubtedly, Roanoke
needs another outlet, and the sooner
that is obtained the better it will be
for the city. Then again you need
diversified Notwithstanding that
will furnish EMPLOYMENT to people
outside OF the large establishments,
YOU will find that they contribute
largely to the growth and prosperity
of the city. I have just returned
from Florence, Alabama. The
amount of energy and enterprise
displayed there is ASTONISHING.
One company with a cash capi1,
tai Of 81 100000 was formed while l
was there, for the purpose of building
an iron furnace, "a cotton mill and roll
ing mill, all on very extensive scale,
and within q month there have been
four corporations, averaging nearly
81, 600, 900, each of which have located
there. These capitalists saw as soon
as thew arrived, that they had an in
dependent outlet in the Tennessee
river. which made them, to q great
degree, Independent Of the railroads.
With another outlet the trade OF Roa-
poke will be greatly increased, and 1t
is to the interest of your people to es-
tablish other railroad connections
as soon as possible. Roanoke has
now reached a stage in her growth
which insurcs other railroad connec-
tions to the city and no power can
stav her progress. She is destined to
be q large and Important CITY, anu
has within herself all the necessary
elements to make her such.
Just st this time an old friend OF
the colonel came up, and as 1t was
getting late, the reporter babe hlm
good bye with the hope that he would
return next spring and make Roanoke
/ his home, He smiled at this sugges-
ltion and said: London Is very
nice place to live in"
Religious Services.
usual services at ST. Marks Lu--
tberan church tomorrow morning and
evening. The pastor will preach in
tho morning on: Faith that makes
evervhhing possible There will be
an eyangelistic service in the evening.
Persons who desire TO be received into
church fellowship can be baptized,
or confirmed, at either service by CIV
| ing due notice to the pastor.
Rev. DR.. James, principal OF Arg
ghany institute, will preach at the
/ Presbyterian Church tomorrow 81
Rev. S. L. Wilson, Presbyterian,