The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-27

Roanoke has q population of %, 900.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
a more solid basis and more rapid growth
than ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at tho junction Of
tho Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 9O7 feet and it is sur
rounded by o 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 tho junction of tho Shen-
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 q years
time open up the trade of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
the baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexing-
ton, forty miles distant, and q road filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in q short timo.
The growth of the city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of tho Nor
folk and Western were removed here
from ~Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road vas completed, and the Roam
k Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent /, ZOO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into Tho Otfu IN fhn ncta I1s,l-1a r
manufactures and other business enter
priscs.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands Of tho section have on
tributcd to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-fivc miles of streets
and eight miles Of street railway inside
tho corporate limits. A dummy line OK
tends to Vinton, distance of two miles
east, 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 n city of SO, 900 inhabitants. The
supply from 4 pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
i'll tho country. 1t is undoubtedly a
specific for many forms Of kidney dis
ease.
Light is furnished by the Gas Com
pany and tho Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
S0,000,0 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works The
increase in tho value Of realty was
about 5000, 600 over the previous
assessment Of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There arc four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, tho Continent
tai, and Hotel Fclix-besides a number
of smaller ones. All of them arc
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES,
The First National Bank has a capital
of $780, 600, and n surplus of 500, 900; the
National Exchange Bank, with a CAPT
tai of 100000, has S25, 200 in Govern
ment bonds; the Citizens Bank has a
capital of $50, 600; the Commercial Ma
tional Bank, with a capital of 500. 900,
has a surplus of $4,000; tho Roanoke
Trust, Loan and Safe-Deposit Company,
with a capital of 500, 900, has a 5000, 900
surplus; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, with a capital of
500, 900; tho Fidelity Loan and Trust
Company, and several private banking
concerns, transact a large financial
business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there are a
number of new churches and others
going up, with more soon to be started.
Tho Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
n Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists are erect
ing a fine church, and tho Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of a $40, 900
structure. Tho Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. The city has a
number of excellent public and private
schools.
There are three fire companies. with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with Il
capital of $1,000, 900, pays out SOS 900
per month in wages to employees. About
S5,O0o,ooo a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the impertortant
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
arc as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1000 mem ............ SIS, 900, 900
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 900
West End Iron CO............ 400, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co...... 500, 900
American Bridge Works...... 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. so, 900
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 9O,O
Roanoke Spike Factory....... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., Consisting
OF a 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 900
Repair Shops n. &