The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-13
TN OTHERS EY rs.
HOW ROANOKE LOOKS 10 AN
OUTSIDER.
]. R. RS LETTER In the MIRROR.
A Birdscye View of the City-Eather
Lynci. and Tho Catholic ChurcIi-A
Shrewd Invcs,mcnt-Gooh Advice
a Healthy City.

a
Lynch aud Tho Catholic Church,
Shrcwd Inves,ment-GOoh Advice
a Healthy City.
The following admirably written
tribute to Roanoke and its citizens is
condensed from y. r. IS letter in
the Catholic Mirror
When the train stops at Roanoke,
at an elegant modern station, thronG-
ed with people who are constantly
going and coming, the tourist is en-
phatically reminded of Birmingham
and Chattanooga. Here the Shen-
andoah Valley railroad, soon to be-
come an intregal part of the Norfolk
and Western, terminates. On one
side of the union station, on o level
with it, is a street containing one
very good hotel and row of saloons
and stores more or less conspicuous.
The station grounds are ornamented
with huge floral designs Of the most
artistic description
On an eminence Immediately front
ing the depotis asuperb Queen Anne
inn, which is made the more fairy-lille
with terraced lawns, glorious flowers,
and splashing fountains. Very extern
sive additions are being made, for, in
spite of numerous places of public en-
tertainment, accommodation is great
ly in the vocative A very elaborate
new brick hotel will sonn be COM
pleted, but several more will have TO
be constructed. Thanking the inn are
large buildings devoted to the general
office work of the Norfolk and West
ern railway. Eastward are the mann
moth machine works OF the company,
two immense iron furnaces, rolling
mill, bridge works, and several minor
industries. Westward there is an.
other iron furnace of the first order.
Very soon after my arrival made
the acquaintance OF Mr.. Con O'Leary.
the leading real estate agent OF the
city, who has, by the wise exercise OF
his talents and indomitable energy,
made large fortune very rapidly.
Mr.. O'Leary is lucky in having for
his chief clerk Mr. Trotter, Il clever,
skiiltuI and intelligent gentleman.
These friends directed me TO the pas
torial residence of Father J. W.
Lynch. Once upon that eminence,
you are simple repaid for the eXerton
of getting there. The view is magni-
ficent. The priests house is one OF
the best in the town and comfortably
equipped. [ abounds in clocks, three
of them being of the venerable grand
father order. Father Lynch is still
a young man, the soul OF hospitality,
singularly frank and contiding, gen
erous III all his ways and beloved by
every one, irrespective OF creed.
Close to the rectory is the small
church dedicated TO st. Andrew. 1t
is temporary structure. The right
arm Of the cross fell before tornado
and has not yet been replaced. High
mountains, forming u tremendous
circle. grandly sublilnate the panor-
anna. Mill Mountain is nearest the
town, almost sheer upon the depot,
while farther, 10 right and left, are
Dead Mans Mountain, Fort Mountain
and Tinker's Peak, towering like
giants above their brethren. The
mountain with the sepulchral name
has q weird resem blance to corpse
sbrouded and draped for burial.
There are about 500 Catholics at
Roanoke, all profitably employed, and
some of them prominent and rich.
One of the brightest of the young
\ i.fr
foreman of the machine works and
member of council. Mr.. Greene is a
leader in the clothing business, while
Messrs. Joyce, Story and Fritz are
skilled mechanics.
The church property embraces
about twenty acres of valuable land.
1t cost. say, $20,0e0, and is worth
$75, 900. There is no telling what will
be its ultimate value, for Roanoke is
destined to be one OF the largest and
wealthiest cities in the South. Father
Lynch has planted three hundred
thrifty frees upon the property. A
fine church, commodious school and
q first class hospital are projected.
The people have not paid much at
tention to streets and roads, but are
beginning to do so. | would advise
them to cremate the city garbage in
stead of dumping it on the banks OF
the river.
!. < * =
Northern and Southern men have
combined to make Roanoke the Won
derful place it is, and Northern,
Southern and English capital is pour
ing in steady stream TO expand the
prodigy. But it should never be for
gotten that natural advantages
would have been, to a pronounced
extent, unavailable or barren, with
out the powerful aid of the Norfolk
and Western railway, incidentally
vitilizing the Shenandoah Valley
connection.
There is some talk of Roanoke be-
ing unhealthy; but this is probably
the whispering OF would.be rivals.
The air is wholesome, the drainage is
or could be easily made excellent, and
the alter supply is pure. The people
of town like this, gathered from all
quarters, are not always prudent in
their habits, and some of them bring
their diseases with them, though UNI