The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-20
BEDFORD CITY.
Interesting Facts About Its Growth nnt
PROGRESS.

Interesting Facts About It's Growth and
Progress.
BEDFORD CITY, Nov. 1o.-[Speciall-
Bedford is alive with tho fiyo hundred
visiting capitalists, who arc here at
tending the celebration of Progress,
which concludes today.
Tho visitors arc principally from
| Baltimore, Washington, Boston, Rich
mond, Norfolk, Petersburg, Roanoke,
Lyme hburg, Danvillc, South Boston and
other points.
They arc the guests of the Bedford
City Real Estate Exchange, and have
been entertained in royal style. Most
yesterday was spent in riding over the
city and looking at tho various indus
| tries and important institutions.
Bedford is making rapid strides in
progress. The Beck engine works, n
large plant from Chambersburg, Pa, is
now an assured fact, and it is confident
ly expected, will be in active operation
| in the next six months, and will employ
three hundred men.
| There are seven tobacco factories hero
in active operation, some of them being
the best equipped in the Sixth district
and all doing large business.
a large wooden mill, knitting mills,
woodworking and other smaller indus
tries are also in operation.
1t is ono of the greatest educational
centres in the State, its schools and col
| leges accommodating about | 200 pupils.
1t has Randolph Macon Academy for
boys and young men, Belmont Seminary
! loI iac md oh IL,
male Institute for the higher education
of girls, and the Virginia Business
College, besides good system of public
| schools.
Bedford City is located on the main
line of the Norfolk and Western rail
road, twcnty-cight miles from Roanoke.
twenty-five miles from Lynchburg and
is just at the foot Of the famous Peaks
of Otter. which. form the southwestern
terminal spur of the Blue Ridge range
The new town is being built about
onC-half mile west of the old town on
the properties of the Bedford City Land
and Improvement Company and the
West Bedford Company.
A 100000 hotel is nearly completed
and also the new Norfolk and Western
passenger depot at cost OF $40, 600. A
large office building. to be occupied by
the improvement company, an opera
house, Il building to be occupied by the
West Bedford Company, and several
factories, which have been recently To-
Gated. will be erected at an early day.
A large number of handsome resi-
denccs have been erected in all parts of
the city. Considering that it has been
scarcely year since Bedford inaugur-
ated her first movements. her growth
has been wonderful, and all doubts have
been dispelled as to her future progress.
She is to have another railroad soon.
The Bedford and James River line,
which will connect with the Chesapeake
and Ohio at point near Big Island. is
now an assured fact. the contract hav-
ing been signed, sealed and delivered.
This enterprise is principally
bedford City one, and will he built by
pluck and capital of her own. citizens
The sale of yesterday and to-day as
conducted by j. Ellen Cook & Co., of
Baltimore. has been a success.
The sales for the two days amounted
to about two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. One hundred and two lots were
sold i'll forty minutes this evening.