The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-22

Roanoke mas a population of 90, 900.
Its citizens arc from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
n moro solid basis and more rapid growth
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's altitude is 007 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 the
country.
The Roanoke and Southern railroad
is now being built to this place from
Winston, n. c., and will in a years
tim" open up the trade Of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
the baltimore and Ohio runs to Licking
ton, forty miles distant, and a road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in a short time.
The growth Of the city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of tho Nor
folk II Western were removed here
from L%ynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley o was completed, and the Roam
k Machine Works. employing at pre-
sent roo hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars nave flowed
into tho city in the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
priscs.
Coal and iron and tho rich agricul-
tural lands Of the section havo con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-five miles of streets
and eight miles Of street railway inside
the corporate limits. a dummy line cx-
tends to Vinton, distance of two miles
cast, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout he city electricity, in n
short time, will take the place of horses
as motive power.
The water works arc sufficient to fur
nish a city Of SO, 900 inhabitants. Tho
supply comes from q pure, cold spring
that gushcS from the side OF Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
i'll the country. 1t is undoubtedly q
specific for many forms Of kidney dis
case.
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
&c. 900, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works Tho
increase in the value Of realty was
about 100000 over the previous
assessment OF four years ago; but pres
ent values arc many millions in excess
of those given.
There arc four fine hotels-IIotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the Continen-
tai, and Hotel F~eliX-bcsides n 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 a capital
of 500, 600, and a surplus of S25. 600; the
National Exchange Bank, with IA capt.
tai of 800, 600, has $25, 900 in Govern
mcnt bonds; the Citizens Bank has a
capital of $50, 600; the Commercial Ma
tional Bank, with a capital of 500, 600,
has q surplus Of $40, 900; tho Roanoke
Trust, Loan and Safc-Doposit Company,
with 4 capital Of $500, 600, has n $500, 900
surplus; the Traders Loan, Trust and
DlOo OOitiP nlbh - GhBlOh vi
500, 600; the Fidelity Loan and Trust
Company, and several private banking
concerns, transact a large financial
business.
All the leading denominations havo
churches in tho city, and there arc u
number Of new churches and others
going up, with more soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifioes. The Baptists arc erect
ing q fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of n $40, 600
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. Tho 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 n
capital Of 1000, 900, pays out S65,O 600
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000, 900 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the impertortant
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
arc as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works (cm-
ploy 1000 mem So, 900, 900
virginia development Co.,. 5,OOO,O0O
West End Iron Co............ 400, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co...... 500 900
American Bridge Works.. .... 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works.. 10000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills...... 10000
Roanoke Spike Factory....... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
OF q 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plato MILL. $780, 900