The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-04
ROANOKE The MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
what Roanoke Has Done and What She
Is Still Observation-Disclosures tho
Close Money Market SIC, 200, 600 In I'M
provements Already In Sight---The
Population, Industries aud Advnnt-
ages of tho Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has population of over 22,-
200. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. It's growth at present
lis on moro solid basis and more rapid
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is oO7 feet and it is sur
rounded by a rich agricultural and min
eral country.
Roanoke is distant just eight hours
ride from Washington and Norfolk, nine
from Baltimore, twelve from Philadcl-
phia, and fourteen from New York. 1t
is situated at the junction of the Shen
andoah Valley and Norfolk and West
ern railroads, both trunk lines, and is
easily reached from any section of the
country.
The Roanoke and Southern railroad
is now being built to this place from
Winston, N. c., and will open up the
trade of the Carolinas to this section
next fall. Tho Valley branch of the
forty miles distant, and road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in Il short time.
The growth of the city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western were removed here
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and the Roam
Oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent 1,Tt0 hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into the city in the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and the rich agricultu-
raj lands of the section have contribu-
ted to the growth.
Roanoke has siXty-five miles OF streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Vinton, a distance of two
miles east and to Salem, six miles
west. Throughout the city cleo tricity,
in short time, will take the place Of
horses as motive power
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish city Of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from 4 pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill Noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in tho country. 1t is undoubtedly u
specific for many forms of kidney dis
ease.
Light is furnished by the Gas Com
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment Of this year, is nearly
$4,000 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value Of realty was
about $4,000 600 over tho previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Eotcl Roa-
nQlke, the Ponce dc Leon, tho Continen-
tai, and Hotel FcliX-bcsides number
of smaller ones. All OF them arc
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with
BANNING FACILITIES.
The First National Bank has a cap
ital of 500, 900; the National Exchange
Bank a capital Of 500, 900; the Citizens
National Bank Il capital of 800, 600; the
Commercial National Bank a capital of
$780, 600; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital of
$250,000; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company Il capital Of 500, 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company n
capital of 100000; and several private
banking concerns transact large finan-
cial business.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with q
capital Of S., 600, 600, pays out $G5, 900
per month in wages to employees About
$5,000,000 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works . . . So, 600, 600
West End Iron Co. .......... $780, 200
Grocer Steel and Iron Co.. 80. 500, 900
American Bridge Works. $50. 100000
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
WORKS $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory.... $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 200, 600
Roanoke Spike Factory. ...... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., Consisting
of q 200-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 600
Roanoke brewery. ........... $4,000
Bridgewatcr Carriage Com
pany, Of Roanoke. ......... $4,000
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co. 49,. $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company 5000
Roanoke Gas and Water Co. :. $50, 900
Roanoke Electric Light Co... $4,000
p. l.. Terry Milling Co. $4,000
diamond Ice Co. $4,000
Roanoke Ice Co. 80, 200
West End Brick and Tilo
Works ................. 10000
Adams Bros. &, Payne Brick
Co ..................... $4,000
Five planning mills. ....... 100, 900
Two tobacco factories. ..... $4,000