The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-01

Roanoke has population of over22,-
GOO. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. It's growth at present
Is on more solid basis and moro rapid
than ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction OF
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
3 Its altitude is 907 feet and it is sur
Z rounded by a rich agricultural and min
eral country.
"a 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 a 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
cke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent 1,7tO hands, was established. Since
{ then millions Of dollars have flowed
into the city in the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
3 prises.
50 Coal and iron and the rich agri1ultu-
raj lands of the section have uontribu-
ted to che, growth.
Roanoke hassixty-f~e miles of streets
and eight miles OF street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
: extends to Vinton, distance of two
. miles east, and to Salem, six miles
west. Throughout the city electricity,
In short time, Will .ccko the place Of
horses as motive power.
The water works are Sufficient to fur
nish city OF $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply CONES 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
tbs assessment of this year, is nearly
1900, 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value of realty was
about 100000 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
emit values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel FeliX-besides a number
of smaller ones. All of them are
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES.
The First National Bank has a cap
ital of 100000, with surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank capital of 500, 900; the Citizens
National Bank capital of $780, 900; the
Commercial National Bank capital of
100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital OF
H25O,00O; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company n capital of $1,000
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company a
capital of 100000; and several private
banking concerns transact large finan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of s5,000,O0O, pays out SOS, ZOO
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000, 600 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows;
Roanoke Machine Works. -. SO, 900 OOC
West End Iron Co. ........... fO0,0 DOC
Grocer Steel and Iron Co...... 100000
American Bridge Works...... 100000
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory.... $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ..... 200, OOC
Roanoke Spike Factory ...... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of 2O0-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL, 100000
Roanoke Brewery. ... rs, 00(
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany, of Roanoke. .......,. 75.OO(
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co. .... $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company. rs. OO(
Roanoke Gas and Water Co... 250,00(
Roanoke Electric Light Co.. $4,000
p. L. Terry Milling Co. ..... 25,OO(
Diamond Ice Co... $4,000
Roanoke Ice Co. IS, OO(
West End Brick and Tile
Works 10000
Adams Bros. 81 Payne Brick
Go rs, 00(
Five planning mills. ......... 100000
Two tobacco factories. $4,000
Two cigar factories ,,,. 5.OC(