The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-03

Roanoke has population OF oyer22,
600. It's citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union Eight years ago il
had 600 people. Its growth at present
Is on moro solid basis and more rapid
than ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction Of
The Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 907 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 Philadcl-
phia, and fourteen from New York. 1t
is situated at the junction Of the Shen-
endoah Valley and Norfolk and West
ern railroads, both trunk lines, and is
casily reached from any section of the
country.
The Roanoke and Southern railroad
Is now being built to this place from
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 filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in short time.
The growth of the city dates from
1852, when the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western were removed here
from Lynehburg. the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and the Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
cont 1,TtO 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 agricultu-
ral lands of the section have contribu-
ted to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-five miles of streets
Gnd eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Vinton, a distance of two
miles east, and to Salem, six miles
west. Throughout the city electricity,
IN o short time, will take the place of
horses as motive power
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish city Of $4,000 Inhabitants. The
supply comes from n pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side Of Mill Noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
IN tho 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
tho assessment OF this year, is nearly
$4,000, 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value Of realty was
about $4,000 900 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values arc many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotcls-Eotel Roa-
noke, tho Ponce de Leon, the Contnen-
tai, and Hotel FeliX--besdes 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 cap
ital of 100000 with Il surplus of
Sl0O,000 the National Exchange
Bank capital OF 500, coo; the Citizens
National Bank Il capital Of 500, goo; the
Commercial National Bank a capital of
Gl00,0 the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital of
$3.50, 900; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company Il capital OF Sl0O 900;
she Fidelity Loan and Trust Company a
capital Of S200, 600; and several private
banking concerns transact a large inan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital OF Ss5,OO0,U0O. pays out SIS, 900
per month i'll wages 10 employees. About
Ga,000,0o0 a year is paid in The city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACruRING PLANTS
Are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works . . SIS 900, 600
West End Iron o.......... 500, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co.... 500, 600
American Bridge Works $3.50. 200, 600
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works ................... 10000
Roanoke Canning Factory 49, 10000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. 200, coo
Roanoke Spike Factory .. 10000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of 20Oton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill.... 500, 600
Roanoke brewery. .......... $4,000
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany, Of Roanoke. ...... 75,CO0
Gam Dill FIGURING Mill CO..... $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company -. 25 000
Roanoke Gas and Water Co. 1000
Roanoke Electric Light Co.. 10000
2. l.. Terry Milling Co. .. $4,000
Diamond Ice Co.............. $4,000
Roanoke Ice Co. .............. $4,000
West End Brick and Tile
Works ............. 10000
adams Bros. & Payne Brick
Co Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Five planning mills. .......... 900
Two tobacco factories. .... $4,000
Two cigar factories. .......... 5000
One mattress factory. ........ $4,000
Cold storage company. $4,000