Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-30

Take the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to
Shenandoah junction, and you will arrive
in time in the morning to see the most
beautiful and dazzling sunrise. Then along
the Shenandoah Valley, historic and pictur-
esque, you have a NEST enjoyable daylight
ride. You pass the location of the now
famous Luray caverns, which thousands oi
tourists annually visit. Some miles further
down the valley you reach Welr's cave ana
grottos OF more recent discovery. A hne
view OF the historic Lookout Mountain,
and then the most direct route to the won
derful natural bridge" 2h miles from the
station of that name. Before sunset you are
at Roanoke, the terminus OF the Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad, and more delight
full ride could not be provided. The valley,
its entire length, is being developed rapid
ly. An instance of this may be cited In
reference to Roanoke, formerly big Lick. "
A RARE TRANSPORTATION.
Six years ago the writer passed through
Roanoke, over the Shenandoah valley Rail-
road, 1t then had few houses; new rail-
road roundhouse bad just been finished; a
new hotel was in course of erection on a
huge mound of red clay. ana 600 people re-
sided at the point. To-day that hotel is
surrounded by lawn of velvet green; the
rouadhouses are several in number; there
are two furnaces in. operation; two large
rolling mills at work, and locomotive
works, the largest in the South, nearly COM
pleted. There are also a number of
smaller industrial establishments IN full
tide of success, aud the population numbers
$1,000, or an increase of IA, 400 IN SIX years!
One of the principal causes for this pros
perity in Roanoke is the opening OF the
Pocahontas coal field on New river, few
miles distant. This coal is being taken out
in great uantities-thousands of tons daily
and is being hauled East and West, vast
amount of it going to Norfolk, over the
Norfolk and Western Railway, for export.
1t is also magnificent coal for coking pur-
pose and very many ovens are burning. and
train after train load is sent East and West
from this new field, the Norfolk and West
ern getting deal of the traffic OF course
this prosperity at Roanoke is felt in this
locality, which is only SO miles distant, and
already it is proving good market for
wheat and other cereals.
STILL MORE PROSPERITY.
But another boom is in store for Roanoke.
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Company has just awarded a contract for
the building of AZ miles of railroad from
Gap to Princess Flat, and
when finished it will afford a through line
from Nashville to Norfolk, passing through
a rich agricultural and mineral country, the
development of which will bring prosperity
to all the farmers hereabouts, as new
markets will be opened up both East and
West.
Roanoke has two local daily papers
which are apparently thrifty, and one or
two weekly papers. Real estate within
year had more than quadrupled itself. A
single instance will suffice. Some lots
which cost 81, 300 sold for So, 300, and again
for $40, 900 per lot within a year. At pres
ent there is lull in the market, but nearly
all the available property in the city has
been taken up for business purposes, and
'peculators are beginning to buy outside the
have made some inquiries about the can
lacy of General Malone. The colored men
about Christiansburg, to use the language
If one of them, "are punctual at the polling
places" and they are generally in favor of
he Republican candidate. General Ma
none, as nearly as 1 can estimate, will run
veil in Montgomery county.
PERCY f. SMITH.