The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-30
RoANoKE-sALEM.
Views of a Prominent Citizen OF
Salem on Union.

tHc culIorlal reply OF inc IlmoS-R Regis
ter and your answer thereto The i'm
portance of the subject and the exceed
ingly good taste Of your last named edi-
torial induces me to write on this sub
ject
AS matters now are. do not think
union between Salem and Roanoke
could at present be effected The very
small debt of Salem, the ownership Of
her water works, tho benefits which she
will derive from franchises granted, her
very cheap sewerage, &C., &C., cause
such disparity to exist that, unless some
means OF equalization could be brought
about (Which l think possible) q union
between the two corporations, would
greatly increase the burdens of Salem.
In addition to this must be considered
the fact that as Roanoke's population is
about four times as much as Salem's, q
majority of the council Of the united
city would naturally be chosen from the
Roanoke end, and special provisions Of
possible) would have to be made to pre-
vent improper determinations in favor
of that part of the city in which ma
jority OF the council were domiciled
Even if the agreement under which
vides against such discrimination, such
agreement could not be so made, l APP
prehend, as to entirely prevent this, and
fear on this point by the people of Sa-
lem will produce some embarrassment
in the movement to unite the cities.
On the other hand, such union would
give strength, and from it would flow at
least the great advantages which result
from unity and cooperation, and the
matter is certainly worthy of serious
consideration. TO bring about such a
result think all the conditions prece-
dent should be regarded ard, Us far as
may be, established.
In this connection l think | will be
pardoned for saying that the policy of
Roanoke has not been quite SO broad as
is consistent with her best interests, or
tends to the result we are considering.
For example, Roanoke refused to take
any of the Roanoke Street Railway
bonds which had to be placed to build
the dummy line between Salem and
Roanoke, and Salem had to and did take
all of the bonds.
Effort after effort has been made to
induce Roanoke to put up one-half Of
the money to complete Boulevard Roam
oke from Salem to Roanoke. Salem be-
ing willing and ready to put up the
other half, but except an offer by Mr.. p.
l.. Terry and Mr.. II. S. Trout to sub
scribe $500 each no response has been
made by Roanoke.
Again, Salem offered to put up in
cash all the monty necessary to bring
the Roanoke and Southern railroad by
Salem to Roanoke. This offer was re-
fused on the ground, as stated, that it
was not deemed for the best interests Of
Roanoke to bring the road by Salem.
Had Roanoke shown the spirit Of
Salem in these matters we would have
theNorfolk and Western, the DUN 10 Y line
and finely graded and macadamized
ninety foot boulevard on tho north side
of the river. and the Roanoke and South
ern en- the south side OF the river, which
would have afforded remarkable oppor-
tunities for the building up of the en-
tire space between Salem and Roanoke
and the source of great wealth to the
entire section.
The writer says without hesitation
that the Baltimore and Ohio will be
completed to Salem, and the people Of
Salem have offered, before any work was
done on the Roanoke end of the Roam
oke and Southern. to unite with Roanoke
in procuring the construction OF the
baltimore and Ohio by Roanoke to
Salem, provided, Roanoke would con-
struct the Roanoke and Southern by
Salem to Roanoke. In this connection
it must also be considered that Salem
would pay the entire additional cost Of
bringing the Roanoke and Southern by
Salem, while Roanoke would not be eX-
pected TO pay the additional cost of
bringing the Baltimore and Ohio by
Roanoke to Salem.
Now from these facts the PEG pie of
Roanoke can themselves Judge as to the
policy pursued so far.
submit that the proper thing to do
now is to at once change the location OF
the K. & 5. by Salem, and thereby pro-
cure the Is. & O. by Roanoke to Salem,
whereby exceedingly great advantages
will flow to both places and union
probably follow in due time.
only add that the coal and iron in
terests are the basis Of the growth OF
our section. and that our purposes de-
mand road TO the Craig ore fields,
which, being extended to the Pccahon-
tas coal fields, will pass through a great
orc field, and will give us such advan-
tages for the manufacture Of iron IS
Will, think, assure to us an iron man.
ufacturing district surpassed by few, if
any, in America.
All Of this may easily be accom-
plishcd by perceiving the policy have
outlined, and if the press and business
men of both places will determine ons
such course, VIC may fully expect to
have our cities united and to have much
the largest city in the State.
On the other hand, II Roanoke insists
on preventing the construction of the
Roanoke and Southern by Salem and
down the south side of Roanoke river,
depriving Salem and the entire section
OF the advantages such line would
give, and force Salem to build connec-
lion at Sta rkiA Othar