The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-22

Roanoke has population of $4,000.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. It's growth at present is on
a 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 GOT 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 isl
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 in years
to this section. The Valley Branch OF
the baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexing-
ton, forty miles distant,and a road filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in q short time.
Tho growth of the city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of tho 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 1,700 hands, was established. Since
then millions OF dollars havo flowed
into tho city in tho establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
tural lands OF the section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-ive miles Of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line ex-
tends to Vinton, distance of two miles
east, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout the city electricity, in
short time, will take tho place Of horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish city OF so, 200 inhabitants Tho
supply comes from pure, cold spring
that gushes from tho side Of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in tho 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 property valuation, according to
the assessment OF this year, is nearly
So 600, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works Tho
Increase in the value of realty was
about SIS, 0G0,U10 over tho previous
assessment Of four years aIo; but pres
ent values are many millions in Xcess
Of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
nol1e, the Ponce do Leon, tho Continent
tai, and Hotel FeliX-besides q 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 capital
of Sl00,00O; the National Exchange
Bank, capital Of 100000; the Citizens
National Bank, a capital of 500, 900;
the Commercial National Bank, CAPT
tai of 500. 900; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital of
S250,000; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, a capital OF 500, 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact large
financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there are
number of new churches going
up, with more soon to be started
Tho Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edificcs. The Baptists are erect
ing a fine church. and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of $40, 900
STRUCTURE. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. The city has a
number of excellent public and private
schools.
There are three fire companies, with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of $1,000, 900, pays out SG5, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
$1,000, 600 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
arc as follows:
Virginia Development Co. :. .S5, 900, 900
Roanoke Machine Works lem
ploy 1000 men). ......... 1900. 900
West End Iron Co. ........... 100000
CrOZcr Steel and Iron Co.,. 500, 600
American Bridge Works. 49,. 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. 10000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 10000
Roanoke Spike Factory. 10000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 900
General Repair Shops n. &
w. r. r..
General Repair Shops Shenan-