The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-01
ROANOKE The MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
what Roanoke Has Dono and What She
Is Still Observation-Disclosures the
Close Money Market SO 1000, 600 in I'M
provements Already In Sight---The
Population, Industries and Advant-
ages of the Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has popul ation OF over22,-
600. It's citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had GOO people. Its growth at present
is on more solid basis and more rapid
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
ats altitude is 9O7 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 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. The Valley branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
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 1,7t0 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-fve miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Ninton, q distance Of two
miles cast, 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
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
$9,O00,0O0, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value Of realty was
about S5,000,O0o over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ant Inn n, mil
OF those given.
There are four fine hotels-Iiotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc 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 cap
ital of 100000, with surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank Il capital of 500, 900; the Citizens
National Bank a capital of 500, 0C0; the
Commercial National Bank n capital of
100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company 4 capital of
$3.50, 900; tho Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company Il capital Of Sl00,0 900;
tue Fidelity Loan and Trust Company
capital of S2o0,000; and several private
banking concerns transact a large finan-
CT II business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
ca 2ital of S5,000,0 900, pays out SG5, eco
per month in wages to employees. About
$1,000, 900 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works . . . s., 900, 900
West End Iron Co. .......... 500, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. 800. 500, 600
American Bridge Works. 800. 200, 600
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory... $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ... 200, 900
Roanoke Spike Factory. ..... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of 4 200-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill.. 500, 900
Roanoke brewery. ........-.. $4,000
Bridgewatcr Carriage Com
pany, of Roanoke. $4,000
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co. 800. 10000
Roanoke Milling Company.... % 600
Roanoke Gas and Water Co 100000
Roanoke Electric Light Co.. $4,000
p. L. Terry Milling Co.. . 25,0Oo
diamond Ice Co.. $4,000
Roanoke Ice Co. .............. $4,000
West End Brick and Tile
Works 10000
Adams Bros. & Payne Brick
o................. $4,000
Five planning mills. .......... 100, 600
Two tobacco factories. $4,000
Two cigar factories . 5000
One mattress factory. ...... 2500C
Cold storage company. $4,000