The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-19

Roanoke has a population Of $4,000.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years g it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
a more solid basis and moro rapid than
ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is GOT 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 isl
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 n years
time 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 q Dad filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in n short time.
The growth Of the 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 the Roam
oke Machine Works. employing at pre-
sent loo hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have 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 tho growth.
Roanoke has sixty-five miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line ex-
tends to Vinton, a distance 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 are sufficient to fur
nish a city of so, 600 inhabitants. Tho
supply comes from n pure, cold spring
that gushcs from the side of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in n city
in tho 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 The
about SIS, 100000 over the previous
assessment of four years ago.; but pres
ent values are many millions in Xcess
Of those given.
There are four fine hotels-IIotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel FeliX-besidcs 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 capital
of 500, 600; the National Exchange
Bank, a capital of S1OO, 600; the Citizens
National Bank, a capital of 500, 600;
the Commercial National Bank, a capt.
tai of 500, 600; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, a capital of
$3.50, 600; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, a capital of 500, 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust 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 are
a number of new churches going
up, with moro oon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists are erect
ing a fine church. and the Luthcrans
will soon begin the erection of a $40, 600
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses 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 q
capital of S., ZOO, 900, pays out Sos, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000 600 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Virginia Development Co... .S5, 900, 900
Roanoke Machine Works lem
ploy 1000 men). ......... 1900. 900
West End Iron Co............ 400, 600
Grocer Steel and Iron Co...... 500, 600
American Bridge Works...I.. 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. O,OOO
Roanoke Rolling Mills. 500. 90, 600
Roanoke Spike Factory....... so, 600
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of a 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 600
General Repair Shops N. 81
w. r. r.. ........
General Repair Shops Shenan-
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