The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-11
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
What Roanoke Has Done and What She
Is Still Doing--Notwithstantli the
Close Money Market SIC, 900, 600 In I'M
provements Already in Sight---The
Population, Industries aud Advant-
ages of the Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has population of over 22,
900. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. It's growth at present
is on more solid basis and more rapid
than ever before in its history
Roanoke is located at tho junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is oo7 feet and it is sur
rounded by rich agricultural and min
eral country.
Roanoke is distant just eight hours
ride from Washington and Norfolk, nino
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 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 tho Carolinas to this section
next fall. The Valley branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
forty miles distant, and road filing
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
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent 1,7t 0 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, n 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
nish 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
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. Tho
increase in tho value of realty was
about 100000 over the previous
assessment Of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel Felix-besides n 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 cap
ital of 500, 900; the National Exchange
Bank a capital of $780, 600; tho Citizens
National Bank Il capital of 500, 900; the
Commercial National Bank q 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;
tno EluollIy LoaH anu IruSJ company
capital of 100000 and several private
banking concerns transact large fnan-
cial business.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with
capital of s5,oOo,oOO, pays out sos, 200
per month in wages to employees. About
S5,000,000 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works. ). ST, 900, 900
West End Iron Co. 100000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 100000
American Bridge Works. go. 100000