The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-28
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
What Roanoke Has Done and What She
lis Still Observation-Disclosures the
Close Money Market SIC, 1000, 900 in Inn
proyements Already In SIght---The
Population, Industries aud Advant-
ages of the Wonder of tho Valley.

Roanoke has population of over22,
600. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. It's growth at present
Is on q more solid basis and moro rapid
than ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction Of
che Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys
Its 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 open up the
trade of the Carolinas to this section
next fall. The Valley branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
forty miles distant, and road filling
the connecting link will DO constructed
to Roanoke in short time.
The growth of the city dates from
1852, 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 1,7CO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into tho city in the establishment of
manufac lures and other business enter
rriscs.
Coal and iron and the rich agricultu-
raj lands of the section have contribu
ted to the growth.
Roanoke has siXsy-fve miles of streets
end eight miles OF street railway inside
tho corporate limits A dummy line
extends to Ninton, Il 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
specific Tor many forms of kidney dis
case.
Light is furnished by the Gas Com
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
Tho property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
$4,000 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value of realty was
about $5,00o,O0O over the previous
assessment Of four years ago; but pres
cnt values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are fourGne hotels-Eotel Roa-
noke, tho Ponce dc Leon, the Continent
OF smaller ones. All of them are
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is well supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES.
tho First National Bank has cap
itnl of 100000, with surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank capital OF 500, 900; the Citizens
National Bank Il capital of 500, OGO; the
Commercial National Bank a capital of
100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital of
625O,O00; the Traders Loan. Trust and
Deposit Company 4 capital Of SlOOO0
: the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company
capital of $1,000 and several private
banking concerns transact q large fnan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with o
capital OF 55,000000, pays out SG5, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
SIS, 600, coo year is paid in the city for
VNages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works. s., 900. 600
west END Iron Co. ........... 500, COO
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 500, 600
American Bridge Works. 800. 200, COO
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works $4,000
Hoanoke Canning Factory.... 500
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 100000
Roanoke Spike Factory. . $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
Of 2c0-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 600
6oanoKe brewery ............ rs, 600
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany, of Roanoke. COO
Gamblll FIGURING Mill Co... so, 600
Roanoke Milling Company 25 600
Roanoke Gas and Water Co.. $50. 600
Roanoke Electric Light Co.. 10000
p. L. Terry Milling Co. ....... 25. 900
Diamond Ice Co. $4,000
&oanoke Ice Co.,. IS, 900
West End Brick and Tile
Works ................. 10000
Adams Bros. Sc Payne Brick
Co .................. 25, 600
S Five planning mills. .......... 100, 600
fnh