The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-25

Roanoke has population of 90, 1000.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. It's growth at present is on
a more solid basis and more rapid than
ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is GOT 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 Philadel-
phia and fourteen from New York. 1t
is situated at tho junction OF the Shen-
andoah Valley and Norfolk and West
ern railroads, both trunk lines, and iss
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 in years
time open up the trade of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
tho baltimore and Ohio runs to Licking
ton, forty miles distant, and road filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in short time.
Tho growth of tho city dates from
1852, when the headquarters of the Nor
folk and Western were removed here
from Lynchburg, the Shenandoah Val
10y road was completed, and tho Roam
oko Machine Works. employing at pre-
sent ZOO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into tho city in the establishment OF
manufactures and other business enter
priscs.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands of the section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-fivc miles Of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
tho corporate limits. A dummy line ex-
tends to Vinton, distance of two miles
cast, 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 a city OF $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from a 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
the assessment Of this year, is nearly
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,0GU,U10 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in Xccss
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotcl Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the 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,
The First National Bank has a capital
of Sl00,n00; the National Exchange
Bank, capital of $1,000 the Citizens
National Bank, a capital of 500, 900;
the Commercial National Bank, a CAPT.
tai of Sl00,O00; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital of
S250,000; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, capital of 500, 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact a largo
financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there are
a number of new churches going
up, with more soon to be started
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edificcs. The I,aptists are erect
ing fine church. and tho Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of $40. 900
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 are three fire companies. with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with n
capital of S5,000,O00, pays out 500, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
$1,000, 900 year is paid in tho city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Virginia Development Co. -. SIS, 900, 900
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1000 mem ......... 1900. 600
West End Iron Co. ......... 10000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 500, 900
American Bridge Works. $50. 5000
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. 49,. 100000
General Repair Shops N. 81
w. II. r..
General Repair Shops Shenan-
dnah Xallnu Railrond