The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-11
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
what Roanoke Has Done and What She
is Still Doing--Notwithstandi tho
Close Money Market $50, OO0, 900 In I'M
provements Already in Sight---The
Population, Industries and Advant-
ages of the Wonder of the Valley.

hOanOKe mas IL population VI OfSh@~,
900. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. Its growth at present
is on more solid basis and moro rapid
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is o07 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 Philadel-
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
sasily reached from any section of the
country.
The Roanoke and Southerp 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. The Valley branch Of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
forty miles distant, and road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in 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
oie Machine Works, en- ploying OF pre-
sent 1,7t0 hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into the city in the establishment of
manufact lures 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-fvo miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Vinton, distance of two
miles east, and to Salem, six miles
west. Throughout the city electricity
In q 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 n pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill Noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in the country. 1t is undoubtedly a
specific for many forms of kidney dis
ease.
Light is furnished by the Gas Com
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 S5,000,000 over tho previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
emit values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Botel Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the Contnen-
of smaller ones. All of them are
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES.
The First National Bank has n cap
ital of $1,000 with surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank a capital of 500, 900; the Citizens
National Bank a capital of 500, 900; tho
Commercial National Bank Il capital of
100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital OF
S250,000; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company capital OF 500. 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company Il
capital of 5000, 200; and several private
banking concerns transact large fnan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with
capital of IS, 900, pays out $65, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
S5,000,00 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works. SIS, 900, 900
West End Iron Co. 500, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. ..... $780,
American Bridge Works. 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ..... 600 900
Roanoke Spike Factory. $500. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of a 200-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill. -. 10000
Roanoke brewery ......... $4,000
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany, of Roanoke. .. $4,000
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co... $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company.... rs 600
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. $4,000
West End Brick and Tile
Works Observation-Disclosures. 10000
Adams Bros. 81 Payne Brick
Co Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Five planning mills. ......... 100, 600
Two tobacco factories. ....... $4,000
Two cigar factories. .... 5000
One mattress factory. $4,000
Cold storage ompany........ $4,000
Norwich Lock Manufacture