The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-14

Roanoke has Il popu lation of ovcr22,
600. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had GOO people. Its growth at present
is on moro solid basis and moro rapid
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's 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, 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 open up the
trade of the Carolinas to this section
next fall. The Valley branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
forty miles distant, and road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in q short time.
The growth of the city dates from
1882, when the headq quarters 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 LEO hands, was established Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
10 ct. 1,n +a1,l ic1,, re
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and the rich agricultu
raj lands OF the section have contribu-
tod to The growth.
Roanoke has siXty-fve miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporal limits. A dummy line
extends to Vinton, 4 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 rs motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish city OF $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from a 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
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
1000, 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase i'll the value of realty was
about S5,000.000 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotcl Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, the Continen-
tai, and Hotel Felix-bcsides number
of smaller ones. All of them are
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with
BANNING FACILITIES.
The First National Bank has a cap
ital of $1,000 with surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank capital of Sl00, 900; the Citizens
National Bank Il capital of 500, goo; the
Commercial National Bank capital of
S100,C0o; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company . capital of
S25G,000; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company q capital of 500, 600;
capital OF 5000 600; and several private
banking concerns transact a large fnan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital Of G5.000ooO, pays out SG5, 600
per month in wages to employees. About
100000 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of tho important
NANuFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke aIachine Works go S., 0OO. 900
West End Iron Co. ... SOC, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. ... 50O,O 600
American Bridge Works. 800. 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. so, 900
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 200, 600
Roanoke Spike Factory. ...... SO, 200
Roanoke Iron Co., Consisting
of 200-ton Furnace, Muck
Ear Mill and Plate MILL. 500. 600
Roanoke brewery. .. Is, 900
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany, Of Roanoke. .... Is, 900