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

Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
GOO people. It's growth at present is on
q more solid basis and moro rapid than
ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's 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 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 in years
time open up the trade of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
the baltimore and Ohio runs to Lex.nr-
ton, forty miles distant,a and n road filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in q short time.
The growth of tho city dates from
1882, when the headquarters Of the Nor
folk and Western wcro removed here
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and the Roam
olke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent ZOO hands, was established Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into the city i'll the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
priseS.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands of the section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-five 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 a
short time, will take the place of horses
as motive power.
Tho water works arc 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 q
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
3d. 600, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,00O,O0O over the previous
assessment Of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in Xcess
of those given
There are four fine hotels-IIotel Roa-
nolle, the Ponce do Leon, the Continen-
tai, and Hotel FcliX-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 n capital
of 100000; the National Exchange
Bank, capital of 100000; the Citizens
National Bank, capital of 500, 900;
the Commercial National Bank, a CAPT.
tai of $780, 900; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital of
S250,000; tho Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, a capital of 500, 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
capital of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact a 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.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick ediiices. The Baptists are erect
ing fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of S4O,0
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. The city has
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 $4,000, 600, pays out $685.
per month in wages to employees. About
$1,000, 600 q year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works lem
ploy 1000 men) ........... 81, 900, 600
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 900
West End Iron CO........... 100000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. 500, GOO
American Bridge Works. 80. 100000
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. 10000
Roanoke Spike Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill.... 5000
General Repair Shops n. &
w. K. Il. Observation-Disclosures. ....
General Repair Shops Shenan-
dOah Valley Railroad. 49,. ........
Roanoke Brewery. ........ $4,000
Bridgewater Carriage Com