The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-29

Street Railway Company, which pro-
poses to bolt the entire town OF Salon,
and run an electric limo down bowman
avonuo and along tho South sido of tho
river to Roanoke City.
Tho Development Company has given
sixty acres of land for new site to
Roanoke College. Tho now buildings
will cost 100000. The college, to-
gcthcr with tho professors houses, will
occupy an cminonce commanding grand
Wow OF tho valley and tho encircling
mountains. No college in America has
o moro eligible sito. A residence for
session in tho midst of such inspiring
scenery will be itself source of educa-
ton.
On tho hill, rising sharply a few
squares from tho river. arc a number OF
handsome residences and others are in
process of building. Tho location is
most beautiful one for homes and will
be rapidly occupied.
Houses for operatives arc greatly
needed. Tho company has erected
thirty, but four times that many will
very soon be wanted Few safer or
moro profitable investments could be
made Tho opportunity will not long
be neglected.
In addition to these two principal
companies, there arc others which arc
doing an important work for tho devol-
opment OF the town. On the cast of the
Improvement are Glcnmore and River
side, and on tho east OF the Development
| lands is South Salem. On tho west Of
| the town are Steclton. West Salon and
| others. On the lands Of tho Riverside
Company the Salem Rolling Mills arc
! located These works will soon he in
operation and will be an important
| plant.
There arc forty enterprises cstab-
lishcd in Salem with capacity TO ON
ploy l,500 workmen. Including tho
mechanics engaged in building, tho
laborcrs employed upon the streets and
tho men at labor in the largo brick
works, there arc fully that many at
work today.
We have already had several views of
tho present condition OF Salem, but
We will take more direct look. Tho
! financial depression felt throughout the
| business world, more scnsibly in Europe
| than in our own country, has necessarily
checked tho progress Of tho work in all
our new cities. Many of the plans havo
been delayed. The rapid exchange OF
lots has boon suspended. Speculation
has ceased. Rumors have been set
atloat by croakcrs and willful falsihors
! that 1.-The bottom has dropped out" and
the towns are dead. a ride through
the streets Of Salem is sufficient to show
that Of this place, at least, the report Is
not true. There arc in all parts OF tho
town dwelling houses in various stages
OF construction, from foundations being
laid to the finishing touches. Moro
| residences have been built this year than
, were last. Far more important indus
| trial establishments are being erected.
More stores are open. business IS
prosperous, and the people arc bright
and hopeful. No such depression has
fallen upon Salem as Roanoke expert
enccd in 81 and 49, Those who have
felt discouraged know littlc OF the early
history OF cities, and especially those
which arc situated in the manufacture
ing districts. Tho temporary checks
est foundations. \ hasty visit to Salem
may not discern the real condition OF
the town, for there is no single point
from which all the improvements can
be seen. Most OF the houses being built
are in the old part Of the town, and arc
concealed from the casual glance, hut a
ride through the principal streets shows
the stranger the solid advances being
made. Tho invariablc Judgment OF
those who make careful observations is
that there is NJ more substantial town
with ~ brighter future before it along
the limo from llagrrstown to Bristol
than Salem. Not one OF tho new towns
has suffered as little from the financial
depression Of the country as Salem.
Visitors are all impressed with tho
character OF the new bu ldings They
often speak Of the dissimilarity between
new towns. The buildings, both for