The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-29

AHo lolloWlnB 10 One principal portlOn
of the annual report of President Dem
iston, of the Roanoke Development
Company at the recent meeting of its
shareholders:
ment Company is, as the name of the
company indicates, SO intimately con.
nected with the development of Roam
oke, that, in order to form an adequate
idea of the work and prospects of the
company, it is necessary, first of all, to
understand what Roanoke now is and
what causes have contributed chiefly to
make 1t city Of its present size and
Importance.
In 1881, the center Of what is today
the city Of Roanoke was known as "Big
Lick" settlement containing some
400 people; to-day, Roanoke has popu-
lation of $4,000. 1t was decided in 1891
to make Big Lick the junction Of the
Norfolk and Western and Shenandoah
Valley railroads, and to establish there
the shops and principal office of the Nor
folk and Western Railroad Company.
The Roanoke Land and Improvements
Company was formed and the place
was from that time forward known
as Roanoke. The work on the shops
began in 1881, but il was not until
the summer of 1883 that the shops of
the Roanoke Machine Works went into
operation. This industry started with
q capacity of 900 hands, and the full
complement of men were soon EMPLOYED.
About these works the town of Roam
oke began its phenomenal growth.
On May 2Sth, 1883, Roanoke's first
furnace, that of the Grocer Iron Com
pany, went into blast. The success of
this furnace led the company to dupli-
cate its plant, and it's second furnace
was blown in October 10th, 1899: In
July, 1889, the American Bridge and
Iron Company began its operations,
with capital of $4,000, employing
fifty-fi hands. On May LIST, 1890, the
capital was increased to SITS, coo, and
the company employed 600 men. Mean
while, the works of the Roanoke Ma
chine Company had been growing with
the increase of business, until in 1890
they employed 1900 men. These were
the industries upon which tho town of
Roanoke was based. Others followed
them in the natural course of events,
but they were for the most part of a
subsidiary character.
The growth of the town was rapid.
Starting with population of 400 in
1882. the town had grown by 1884 to
population of $500; in 1856, the popula-
tion had increased to $500; in 1888, to
$4,000; in 1889, to 10000; in 1890, to 49,
600; in the fall of 1890, at tho time your
company was organized, the population
was estimated at % 900; and to-day con-
servative estimates place the mum Der of
inhabitants at $4,000.
Meanwhile, nearly all of the land
available for industrial purposes has
been taken up. This land lay east of
the centre of population, and the CITY
had grown rapidly towards the west,
and had reached the Roanoke river ly.
ing south and west Of the town. 1t be-
came obvious that the excellent manu-.
featuring sites afforded by the level
lands lying along this river would soon
come into acquisition. The first indus.
try to establish its works on these lands
at the west end Of Roanoke was the fur.
mace of. the Roanoke Iron Company.
This company was formed in October,
1889, with capital of $500, 900. which
wrs subsequently, increased to $3.50, 900.
It's plans embraced the erection of a
furnace with capacity of $50 tons per
day, and OF a rolling mill and plate mill.
Flfty-two acres were secured to accom-
modate these plants. This land lies
north of the river and directly opposite
or noSth of the central part of the prop.
erty subsequently purchased by your
company. Reference to the accompany
ing map will show the relative locations.
Such was the condition of affairs at
the time your company purchased its
1900 acres of land. The land lies
largely on the south side of the river.
directly west Of the center of the citv.
The works of the Roanoke Iron Com
pany, as already stated, are situated
just across the river and north of the
center of the property. The logic of
events pointed to the lands acquired by
your company as the coming manufac-
turing center of the city; in that direc-
ton, ev1deLt y, tho future of Roanoke
Law.
The natural advantages of your COM
pany's property need not be enlarged
upon. 1t is sufficient to state that no
tract could be better adapted for the
purposes of town development. The
level lands lying near the river afford
excellent sites for manufacturing plants
and business houses, and the higher
lands are admirably situated for resi-.
dences. considerable part of these
higher lands furnish the most beautiful
lots for residential purposes in or about
Roanoke, and this part of the property
has been laid off with the view of MAX
ing 1t the most attractive quarter of the
city for the better class Of residences.
AT the meeting of the stockholders of
the company, hcld on October s, 1891,
your president submitted report Civ
ing in detail the work accomplished by
the company up to that time. This re-
port, together with detailed state
ment in regard to the purchase of your
company's land, was unanimously APP
proved by tho stockholders at that
m meeting.