The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-27
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
what Roanoke Has Dono and What She
fs Still Observation-Disclosures the
Close Money Market 1O,OOO, 900 in I'M
provements' Already In Sight--The
Population, Industries and Advant-
ages OF the Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has population of over22,
900. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. Its growth at present
is on moro solid basis and moro rapid
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at tho junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's altitude is 9O7 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, 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 the Carolinas to this section
next fall. Tho Valley branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in n short time.
The growth of the city dates from
1852, when the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western were removed here
from Lylchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, ana the Roam
oke Machine Works. employing at pre-
sent ], 7t o han1s, 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 tho 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 Vinton, q 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 $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from Il 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
5000, 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,O00,OCO 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-Hotcl Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel Felix-besides 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 a capital of 500, 900; the Citizens
National Bank a capital OF 500, OG0 the
Commercial National Bank a capital of
100000 the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital of
S250,000; tho Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company capital OF $lOO.OO0;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company a
capital of $500, 900; and several private
banking concerns transact large fnan-
cial business.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of 81. 100000 pays out S65, COO
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000, 600 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MASIFAc.r pr yrc
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works . 81, 900, 900
West End Iron Co. ........... 100000
Crozer Steel and Iron Co... 500, 600
American Bridge Works. $50. 200, 600
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. ..... $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. -. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 200, 600
Roanoke Spike Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of @O0-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 600
Roanoke brewery .......... rs, 000
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany. of Roanoke. ......... $4,000
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co. -. $4,000
Roanoke Milling Conpany.... 25 900
Roanoke Gas and Wator Co.. $50. 900
Roanoke Electric Light Co... so. 600
+. IL. Terry Milling Co.. $4,000
diamond leo Co............. $4,000
Koanoke Ice Co: ,......:... $4,000
West End Brick and Tilo
Works ;.:.. 10000
Adams Bros. &c Payne Brick
Co. ..........::............ $4,000
Flve planning mills. .......... 100000
Two tobacco factories. $4,000
Two cigar factories. ........ 5000
One mattress factory ........ $4,000
Coid storage company. $4,000
Norwich Lock Manufacture