The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-25
RESOURCES OF OUR SUBURBS.
The Busy Hum of Industry Re-
Sounding at Midway.
Last Summers Confields Transformed
Into budding villagc-Employment
Provided for Scores of Men and Homes
Being Erected for Their Occupancy.

Just 4 short distance without the
corporate limits of Roanoke is situated
the property of tho Midway Iron Com
pany, and the adjacent property is now
being built up at an amazing rate.
Several companies arc operating in
the vicinity, and fields whcro tho corn
waved in last summers winds arc now
resembling With the noise of hammer
and saw, and next wcolS the spike factory
will add it's quota to the cheerful din Of
industry.
The Homo Investment Company is
now surrounding tho spike factory with
neat cottages, which they will seek to
encourage the worllmen to purchase.
They are neat structures containing six
rooms each, with cellar, and the COM
pany is preparing to erect thirty at
once. Before the end of tho year there
will be quito a village.
The Suburban Homo Land Company,
of which T. w. Sims is secretary and
treasurer, has thirty-fivo acres immedi-
ately adjoining this tract, which thoy
will grade. lay off and put upon tho
market next week. Already three or
four lots have been sold at private sale,
and the owners will build upon them
Immediately.
Upon this tract, too, will he situated the
plant of a manufacturing plant employ
ing between 100 and 200 hands, the de-
fails of which are now maturing, and
which will be made public next week
While the Suburban Company was
Instituted as means of providing
suburban homes for RoarDkcrs, the do
mands for sites for manufacturing plants
and their establishment in that locality
have created new demand for homes
for employees.
Along the line of these companies
will be constructed by the Vinton Land
improvement Company their splendid
shell road boulevard connecting Vinton
and Roanoke with Salem, which will at
once be great business thoroughfare
and pleasure trip This road will be
the route to the Blue Ridge and Coyncr
Springs, and will be the most beautiful
drive in the Valley of Virginia.
The Midway Iron Company is pro-
crossing rapidly to completion of it's
plant. Steam connection will be'made
thing put in readiness to begin tho work
of turning out railroad spikes by tho
hundred tons on Monday.
AS an instance of how one industry
creates demand for another may be
cited the case of the cooper shop. In
itself this is an adiunct to tho spike fac
tory. 1t has shipped to it the different
portions OF an unmade lScg and fashions
them into the spike receptacle.
Mr.. o. Nj. Brock, of Monroeton, Pa,
who seen cd the contract for furnishing
the Midway Iron Company with kegs,
has been prospecting for IL site on
which to erect the plant for turning out
the heads and slaves, and has an option
on place on the Roanoke and South
ern, near which may be obtained the
noce ssary lumber.
On this site MIR. Brock will have build
ing ana machinery having a capacity for
making heads and slaves for 20, 900 kegs
each month, and this establishment will
engage the time of fifty or sixty ON
ployes
hus wo will manufacture from raw
material here in our midst that which
is now manufactured i'll Pennsylvania
and shipped here. 1t is also thought
that material may be had in this vicinity
for making tho hoops.
From present indications, the coming
spring will see one continuous limo of
industries in full operation from Vinton
to the westerly line of Roanoke, and the
adjacent hills dotted with the cosey cot
tages of the workingmen engaged in
them.
PERSONAL ITEMS.