The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-14

Roanoke has population of $4,000.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. It's growth at present Is on
a more solid t..sis and moro rapid than
ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the 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 in 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 a road filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in short time.
The growth of tho city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western were removed hero
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and tho Roam
oko Machine Works. employing at pre-
sent ZOO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into tho city in the establishment OF
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and tho rich agricul-
tural lands of the section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-fve miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line ex-
tends to Vinton, distance of two miles
east, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout tho city electricity, in
short time, will take the place Of horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish a city of $4,000 inhabitants. Tho
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 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.
Tho 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 tho value of realty was
about S5,0GU,U00 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
" Iln ono t..
Of those given.
There arc four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, the Continen-
tai, and Hotel FeliX-besides q 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 ca pital
of 100000; the National Exchange
Bank, capital Of 100000; the Citizens
National Bank. a capital of 100000
the Commercial National Bank, a CAPT.
tai of 100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital of
$3.50, 900; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, a capital of 100000;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact q large
financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there arc
a number OF new churches going
up, with moro soon to be started
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick ediflces. Tho Baptists are erect
ing fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection Of S4O.O 900
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. Tho city has
number of excellent public and private
schools.
There are three fro companies. with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of 100000, pays out sos, 900
$5,000,000 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of tho important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Virginia Development Co. :. .S5, 900, 900
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1000 mem. ........... 100000
West End Iron Co. ........... 100000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 100000
American Bridge Works. $50. 100000
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. 10000
Roanoke Spike Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 100000
General Repair Shops N. &
"