The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-26

Roanoke has a population of 10000.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in tho Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
a more solid basis and moro rapid growth
than over 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-
andoah Valley and Norfolk and West
ern railroads, both trunk lines, and is
easily reached from any section of tho
country.
Tho Roanoke and Southern railroad
is now being built to this place from
Winston, n. c., and will in a years
time open up the trade of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
ton, forty miles distant, and Il road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in a short time.
Tho growth of the city dates from
1882, whcu the headquarters of tho Nor
folk and Western were removed hero
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and the Roam
okc Machine Works. employing at pre-
sent l, ZOO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into tho city in the establishment of
manufacturers and other business enter
priscs.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands Of tho section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has siXty-fivc miles OF streets
and eight miles OF street railway inside
the corporate limits. a dummy line OK
tends to Vinton, distance of two miles
east, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout tho city electricity, in n
short time, will take the place OF horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish q city of so, 1000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from 4 pure, cold spring
that gushcs from the side OF Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in the country. 1t is undoubtedly a
specific for many forms Of kidney dis
ease.
Light is furnished by tho Gas Com
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works The
increase in the value of realty was
about $4,000, 900 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-IIotel Roa-
nokc, the Ponce de Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel Felix-besides n number
of smaller ones. All of them arc
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is well supplied with
BANKING FACILITIEs,
The First National Bank has a capital
of 500, 900, and a surplus of S25, 900; the
National Exchange Bank, with a CAPT
tai of 500, 900, has $25, 600 in Govern
cnt bonds; tho Citizens Bank has a
capital of $50, 000: the Commercial Ma
tional Bank, with n capital of 500, 900,
has q surplus of $4,000; the Roanoke
Trust, Loan and Safc-Deposit Company,
with a capital of$100, 900, has Il $500, 600
surplus; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, with q capital of
Sl00,000; the Fidelity Loan and Trust
Company, and several private banking
concerns, transact a large financial
business.
All tho leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there arc a
number of new churches and others
going up, with more soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists are erect
ing Il finc church, and the 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 md modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of So, 200, 900, pays out SG5, 600
per month in wages to employees. About
$1,000, 900 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the impertortant
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works lem
ploy 1000 mem ........... 50, 900, 600
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 900
West End Iron Co............ 400, 600
Grocer Steel and Iron Co...... 500, 900
American Bridge Works.. 200, 600
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. 10000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills...... Co., 900
Roanoke Spike Factory....... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of q 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plato MILL. 500, 900
General Repair Shops n. &
w =