Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-02-28
FRIDAY FEBRUARY IS
,yfEy RoANokG HAS pnospERED

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY rs.
WHY RoANoEkG HAS PRospEHED.
Every passing day increases the
growth and prosperity of this city and
adds tolts prominence as the centre OF
the agricultural and mineral develop
ment of Southwest Virginia, Capital
lists from all parts OF the Union are
constantly arriving here, and a brief
ride over the city Is sufficient to con-
vince them that Roanoke has a bright
future before her and that here is the
place TO make investments with the as
surance of rich returns. The history
of this city is one OF the most wonder
ful examples of rapid growth and &C.
velopment on record and striking IL
lustration Of what capital aud energy
combined with unity Of purpose can
accomplish in creating metropolis OF
ga section which few years ago vas
y unknown to the rest Of the world, ex-
cept as q part Of rich agricultural
region with mineral possibilities yet to
be determined. Saven years ago the
village of Big Lick stood where the
city Of Roanoke now stands. There
were several tobacco factories here
successfully conducted and few stores
(which did prosperous business. The
village was noted for nothing especially,
and nobody supposed that the future
had anything particularly in store for
this community. The completion Of
the Shenandoah Valley railroad to this
point and the erection OF the Roanoke
Machine works, however, wrought a
change as gratifying as il WAS wonder
fu!, aud since that time The city o.
Roanoke has grown and prospered. In
1856 there were about 1900 people
here, and ii WAS hard to tell whether
the city would continue to grow, or
would remain at a standstill. The pub
LEGATION of the Roanoke DAILY TINES
was commenced on The 30th Of No
vember That year, aud il a few. months
there was a revival Of business and an
increase of population which has stead
ily.con tirued until now. It is not IN
tended to assert that al Of the
wonderful changes which have since
occurred were wrought by the TIMEs,
butt cannot be denied that the estab-
lishment Of daily paper was great
addition to the material development
Of the city. Property has increased in
value and thousands of houses have
I been added to those already in the city,
and the papers which have been started
since that time, like the TIMEs, have
worked faithfully for the building up Of
Roanoke and Southwest Virginia. One
great cause of the success and pros
b. 5nsr .i..;. n this city is the unity Of its
satter what their political
kren ces may be, they are
thoroughly united on every question
which will promote the general pros
perdy, and all have an abiding faith in
the future of the city, for which they
are willing to make any reasonable
sacrifice. They have come here from
all sections of the Union and from va
rious foreign countries, and they meet
with a cordial reception, provided they
are law-abiding and have good moral
characters. No effort is made to os.
tracisc them for political opinions, and
from the beginning they are rated al
their true worth and received into full
fellowship as component parts Of this
prosperous municipality. 1t is the ex.
hibition Of this spirit which unites every
new conner to tho general mass Of citi,
zens, and as Roanoke grows and pros.
pers, her citizens will seek only hel
advancement, with full faith that al
will beequal recipients in every benefit
that will accrue TO her and adjacent
communities.