The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-07


Roanoke has q population Of $4,000.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
900 people. Its growth at present is on
M ore solid basis and moro rapid than
ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
rounded by o 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 Now York. It
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 tho
country.
The Roanoke and Southern railroad
is now being built to this place from
Winston, N. c., and will in years
time open up the trade of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio runs to Licking
ton, forty miles distant.and a road filling
TO Roanoke in a short time.
Tho growth of the city dates from
1882, whom the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western were removed here
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and tho Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent 700 hands, was established. Since
then millions Of dollars have flowed
into tho city in the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands OF the section have con-
tributcd to the growth.
Roanoke has siXty-fiye miles OF streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line ex-
tends to Vinton, 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
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish city of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from pure, cold spring
that gushcs 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 tho Gas Com
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
100000 besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works Tho
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,OOO,OO0 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
cnt values arc many millions in xcess
Of those given.
There arc four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
nokc, the Ponce dc Leon, tho Continen-
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,
Tho First National Bank has q capital
Of 100000; the National Exchange
Bank, capital of 100000 the Citizens
National Bank, capital of 100000;
the Commercial National Bank, capt.
tai Of 100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital of
$3.50, 600; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, n capital OF 100000;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact a large
financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city. and there arc
number Of new churches going
up, with more soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists are erect
ing fine church, and tho Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of a $4,000
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. The city has a
number OF excellent public and private
schools.
There arc three fire companies. with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of SIS, OOO,O 900, pays out S65, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
S5,000,000 q year is paid in the city for
wages
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roa noke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1000 men) .S5, 600, 900
Virginia Development Co.. 5000, 900
west End Iron Co. ........... 00,000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 10000
American Bridge Works. -. 100000
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. ................. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. -. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 10000
Roanoke Spike Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
OF 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 100000
General Repair Shops N. &
w. r. R.
General Repair Shops Shenan-