The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-05

Roanoke mas q lpOpulatlOn OF Over22,
600. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
bad GOO people. Its growth at present
is on moro solid basis and more rapid
than ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction OF
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 907 feet and it is sur
rounded by 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
easily reached from any section OF tho
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. The Valley branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
IOFCy mllGS ulSCuHI, anu IL rOdu Hll1uH
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in a short time.
The growth of the city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western we're removed here
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and the Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent 1,7t 0 hands, was eSta blished. 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 agrcultu-
raj lands of the section have contribu-
ted to the growth.
Roanoke has sixtyfve 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 short time, will take the place of
horses as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
uish city of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from 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
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
S0,0O0,0Uo, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,O00,Oo0 over tho previous
assessment of four years ago. hut pres
ent values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotcl Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel Felix-besides a number
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 a can
ttal Of 100000, with surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank capital Of 500, 900; tho Citizens
National Bank a capital of 500, 0GO the
Commercial National Bank capital of
S10O,0 900; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company 4 capital of
S250,000; the Traders Loan. Trust and
Deposit Company capital OF $4,000
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Companya
capital of 100000 and several private
banking concerns transact large fnan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of $780, 900, pays out SG5, 900
per month in wages TO employees. About
S5,0O0,0O0 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works So, DOC, 900