The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-10
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
What Roanoke Hns Done and What She
is Still Observation-Disclosures the
Close Money Market SIC, 1000, 900 in I'm
provements Already i'm Sight---The
Formulation, Industries and Advant-
ages of tho Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has population of over22,
600. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago il
had 600 people. Its growth at present
Is on a more solid basis and moro rapid
than ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction OF
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's altitude is 0O7 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, nine
from Baltimore, twelve from Philadel-
phia, and fourteen from New York. 1t
is situated at the junction of the Shen-
sndoah 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,
1OEGY ulllGS dHO IOto
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 1,7tO 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 siXtyfve miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. a dummy line
extends to Vinton, 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.
Tho water works are sufficient to fur
nish a city of $4,000 Inhabitants. The
supply comes from a pure, cold spring
that gushes from the 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.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
go 900, 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,O00,000 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 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 well supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES.
The First National Bank has cap
100000 the National Exchange
Bank capital of 500, 900: the Citizens
National Bank capital of 500. 900; the
Commercial National Bank a capital of
100000 the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital of
$3.50 900; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company capital OF 500. 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company a
capital OF S20o,OOo; and several private
banking concerns transact large iinan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of &5,000,000, pays out 500, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
t5,000,000 a year is paid in The city for
wages.
Some Of the important
AIANUFACTUMNG PLANTS
arc as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works . . So, 900, 900
West End Iron Co. ....... 500, 600
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. 800. 500, OOO
American Bridge Works .. 200, OOC
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory.. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills...... 100000
Roanoke Spike FACTORY. 1850. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., Consisting
of Il 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill. 500. OOC
Roanoke brewery. $4,000
Bridgewatcr Carriage Com
pany, Of Roanoke. ... 75,oOC
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co. 49,. $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company.... p 0OC
Roanoke Gas and Water Co. $50, DOC
Roanoke Electric Light Co... 10000
Y. l.. Terry Milling Co........ 81, COO
Diamond Ice Co.............. 5,00t
Noanoke Ice Co. .............. $4,000
West End Brick and Tile
Works 10000
Adams Bros. e. Payne Brick
Co 25, oo'
Five planning mills. .......... 100000
Two tobacco factories. 5000
Two cigar factories. .......... SOC
One mattress factory. ....... 25. OOt