Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1890-01-25
OU Z MAGIC CITY
AS SEEN BY A PHILADELPHIA
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT.
I'll CHA GES OF FIVE YEARS.
TIL. Centre of n vnst Production Of
Metals Tic Real Estate Exchange.
The Machine and Steel works-En.
terprise OF the People.

+. II. T., correspondent OF the
Philadelphia Ledger, in his letter from
this city, concerning progress in Vir-
ginia," has the following concerning
Roanoke aud this section of the
Southwest:
AS for the climate, am within
bounds in saying that during the
ten days in which l have been in
the saddle and by carriage exploring
some of the new iron-making locali;
Ties, nothing more vita'izing or deli
cinus is remembered of Colorado or
California. Out upon the porch of
the cosy Hotel Roanoke the ther-
mometer registers, as | write, IN the
seventies, and upon Sunday last it
went above 80 degrees in the shade.
The mellow purple haze OF June
broods over the distant peaks and
every hour invites one to the joys OF
outdoor existence.
Five years ago, when | last saw
Roanoke (l<nown upon the old maps
us Big Lick and in Roanoke county,,
it was Struggling little town of less
than 900 souls, whose future prosper
ilv, despite the liberal outlay OF the
Shenandoah Valley railroad and the
Norfolk aud Western railroad, meet
lug here. in a depot, hotel and gener-
al offices. seemed far from being as
sured. Within that brief period it
has grown to be stirring, ambitious
LITTLE city of about 1900 population,
and the centre OF Il VAST production OF
metals, which gives employment di-
rectlv or indirectly to the greater por-
ton Of this army of workers.
The Roanoke Real Estate Exchange,
made up of active and enthusiastic
yonny men, chiefly from the North,
il the agent. through the numerous
firms "f which it is composed, OF q
dozen or more Of land companies
whose domain covers the entire en-
vironment of the city, and through,
their efforts chiefly, many old inhabi
tants whose acres bordered the tran
tic young town have found themselves
suddenly enriched beg oud their most
ro,eate dreams. These staid citizens,
together with scores Of newcomers
attracted by the chance OF rapid
profit, or the beauty Of the landscape
and salubrity of the upland climate,
have built numerous handsome and
costly detached homes upon tue hill
tops. Upon every business street,
where | recall the cheap and low
proved stores" of implanted wood
of a few years ago, lofty.
substantial brick, stone and
iron blocks are now seen Roanoke
expects To report a population of 90,
600 TO the census agent when he
knocks ut her doors next May. Among
th- enter rises located here in which
Philadelphians are interested are the
Roanoke Machine works, which have
been in operation about six years.anc
are he largest in the state, the bust
ness of which concern exceeds two
million dollars annually; the Grocer
Steel works. having an output of
about $4,000 tons annually. and to
which u SO, .ond furnace will soon be
added. and the Roanoke Milling COM
panv. A new rolling mill and a bridge
work have also been added within
the past ear.
y variety III IuiupT iiiuuc'iice' III
GLIDING considerable robacc inter
est. are also established and evidently
doing well
Despite it's almost feverish throb of
eager development, the streets f
Roanoll" present many scenes peculi-
arIy Southern in type, and one has but
to ride out little way upon the
numerous winding highways leading
mp into the hills to encounter the
quaint, slow-movlng ox-cart and its
mounraineer occupant going to town
for barter in ''snacks," and to dis
cover in the shadow of the hills fine
old examples OF the hospitable South
ern home, with its clusters of outlying
Quarters" and widespread, shady
grounds. Within pleasant driving
distance is the large seminary known
as Hollius Institute, an old-time
favorite with Southern families, whose
daughters have been educated here
for generations, and which continued
peacefully upon its mission of instruc-
ton during the entire period OF the
civil war. hidden'away in its secluded
valley, quite undisturbed by wars
perem tory challenge to the end OF
the struggle.