The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-28

Roanoke has q population of $4,000.
Its citizens arc 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 moro rapid thar
over before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
tho Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 0O7 feet and it is sur
rounded by q 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.
The 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 tho Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
the baltimore and Ohio runs to Licking
ton, forty miles distant, and q road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in a short timo.
Tho growth of tho city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of the'Nor-
folk and Western woro removed hero
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
Icy road was completed, and the Roam
oko Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent LOO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into the city in tho establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Goa and iron and tho rich agricul-
tural lands of the section have con-
tributed to tho growth.
Roanoke has sixty-fve miles of streets
and eight miles OF street railway inside
the corporate limits. a dummy line OK
tends to Vinton, adistance 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 arc sufficient to fur
nish n city Of SO, 600 inhabitants. Tho
supply comes from n pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
i'll the country. 1t is undoubtedly a
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
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works Tho
increase in tho 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 hotcls-IIotel Roa-
nokc, the Ponce dc Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel Felix-bcsides a 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 500, 600; the National Exchange
Bank, a capital of 500, 600; tho Citi-
zen's Bank, a capital of S5O, 1000; the
Commercial National Bank, a capital of
Sl00, 600; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe-Deposit Company, a capital ofS1O0,-
600; the Traders Loan, Trust and De-
posit Company, a capital of 500, 600;
and several private banking concerns,
transact a large financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there arc
q number of new churches going
up, with more soon to be started.
Tho Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists are erect
ing q fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of a $40, 600
structure. Tho Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat house 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 a
capital of $4,000, 900, pays out SEA, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000, 900 4 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works lem
ploy 1000 men) ........ So, OO0, 900
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 600
West End Iron CO............ 400, 600
Grocer Steel II Iron Co... 500, 600
American Bridge Works.. 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. so, 900
Roanoke Rolling Mills....... 90, 900
Roanoke Spike Factory....... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., Consisting
of a 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill. 5000 DOC
General Repair Shops n. &c
w. r. R.. ...... ........
General Repair Shops Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad. $50. ........
Roanoke Rrpwprv vS mn