The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-16

Started.
Tcf>xcars ago farms were cultivated
where now stand the mammoth manu-
featuring plants, business buildings,
and handsome residences of Roanoke.
Big Lick, with its 400 people, was an
easy-going Virginia village, that had
not dreamed of the wonderful things OF
the succeeding years and the present
bustling city of 10000 population.
In 1882 the Roanoke Machine works
were located here, the Shenandoah Val
icy railroad was completed, the Norfolk
and Western headquarters were re-
moved, Roanoke city was Incorporated,
and the era of progress began.
The attention of capitalists was di-
roctcd to the great resources OF the
Southwest and Roanoke at once became
the center OF all operations. Northern
capital began to flow in. and has con-
tinucd in an increasing volume. The
location Of extensive iron works has
brought thousands of people. and other
industries followed. Eoanokc'S manu-
featuring growth has been so rapid and
fast that. Notwithstanding the great in
lux oil people, its population is not vet
in proportion to the manufac turing.
Without any further increase OF indus
tries. the city would continue to expand
until fully $4,000 people were here.
lioanOkc is located i'll the valley of
the Roanoke river, .57 miles west of
Norfolk on tho Norfolk and Western at
the southern terminus OF the Shcnun-
Unnl Nul1eM .,ilrAa1 nj
terminus vi the Roanoke and Southern.
in course of construction. The lines
make tributary incXhaustiblc supplies
OF coal. iron. marble. limestone. granite
and lumber, and afford transportatio
facilities for al enormous business
The altitude is g01 feet above the sea
level, and tho location is hcalthsul.
Hills and low mountains rise on either
side. and thu swift little Roanoke river
shirts the southern border.
There are siXty-tivc miles of streets
and eight miles OF street railway inside
the corporate limits. a dummy line cX-
tends to Vinton. Il distance Of two miles
cast. and will soon be completed to
Salem, six miles west.
The watcrwOrlls arc sufficient to furn-
ish city of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from Il pure cold spring
that sushcs from the side OF Mill noun
tain, and is without an equal in any
city in the country. 1t is undoubtedly
specific for many forms of kidney dis
ease.
Light is furnished by the Gas Com
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company. Tho city is fairly
well drained. and the city will next
year construct il thorough sewerage Sys-
ten.
The property valuation according to
the assessment of this year is nearly
S!,0OO-000: besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value Of realty was about
S5.Go0,oo0 over the previous assessment
of four years age: hut present values are
many millions in excess of those given.
There are four fine hCtcls-iIotpl Roa-
nokc. the Ponce dc Leon, the Continent
tai and Hotel FcliX-bcsidcs Il number
of smaller ones. All of them are
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with bank
ing facilities. The First National Hank
has Il capital OF SlGO.OO and SURPLUS
of $@5,0U0; the National Exchange
Bank. with a capital Of Sl00.O0O. has
$500 in Government bonds: the Citi-
Zcns' Bank has y capital OF so. OOO: the
Commercial National Bank. with a capi-
tai of 100000. has Il surplus of 81 coo:
the Roanoke Trust. Loan and Safe De-
post Company. with Il capital of $780,
0OG. has Il >'@0O.GOo surplus: the Traders
Loan. Trust and Deposit Company. with
IL capital OF Sl00, G0O: the Fidelity Loan
and Trust Company and several private
banking concerns transact IL large
financial business.
There arc Il number Of now churches