The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-23

III euc Ou1OH. GlSut years ago IL nau
600 people. Its growth at present is on
more solid basis and more rapid than
ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at tho junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 9O7 feet and it is sur
rounded by rich agricultural and min
eral country.
Roanoke Is distant Just eight hours
ride from Washington and Norfolk, nino
from Baltimore. twelve from Philadcl-
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 isl
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 the Carolinas
to this section. Tho Valley Branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexing-
ton, forty miles distant, and a road filing
the connecting link will be construct ted
to Roanoke in a short time.
Tho growth of tho city dates from
1882, when the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western were removed here
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and tho Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent / roo hands, was established. Since
then millions Of dollars havo flowed
into the city in the establishment Of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands OF the section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has siYty-five miles Of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
tends to Vinton, a distance Of two miles
east, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout the city electricity, in a
short time, will take tho place Of horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish city of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from pure, cold spring
that gushcs from the side Of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in the country. 1t. is oubtedly 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
50, 900, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,0GU,U00 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in Xcess
of those given.
There are four fine hotcls-Hotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the Continen-
tai, and Hotel Fclix-besides a 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 10000 the National Exchange
Bank, capital of 100000; the Citizens
National Bank, capital of 500, 900;
the Commercial National Bank, q CAPT.
tai of 500, 600; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital of
$3.50, 900; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, capital of 800, 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact largo
financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches III the city, and .here are
number of new churches going
up, with moro soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presby terrain
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick ediiices. The Baptists are erect
ing fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection Of $40, 900
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
Of IL, I
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 S5,000,0O0, pays out $4,000
per month in wages to employees. About
100000 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
arc as follows:
Virginia Development Co. b. SIS, 900, 900
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 900 men). ........ 500, 900
West End Iron Co.. 10000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. 80. 500, 900
American Bridge Works. 49,. 100000
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
w OrkS. ............... $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Koanoke Rolling Mills. 10000
Roanoke Spike Factory. ..... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of a 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plato Mill. -. 1000
General Repair Shops N. &
w. II. r..
General Repair Shops Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad. go.
Roanoke Brewery. ........ $4,000
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany, of Roanoke. ........ 10000
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co... $4,000
Roanoke Mining Comma o. oOO