The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-30
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of It's Growth Boiled
Down.
What Roanoke Has Done and What She
Is Still Doing--NOtwithstandin the
Close Money Market $40 ZOO, 600 i'm I'M
provements Already In Sight---The
Population, Industries and Advant-
ages of tho Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has popu lation Of over22,-
900. It's citizens are from nearly every
State in tho Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. Its growth at present
Is on moro solid basis and moro rapid
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 9O7 feet and it is sur
rounded by q 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 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 ard 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. Tho 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
oke Machine Works, employing at pro-
sent Ito hands, was eS tabliShed. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into the city in the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and the rich agricultu-
raj lands of the section have contribu-
ted to the growth.
Roanoke has siXty-ive miles of streets
and eight miles OF street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to ,Vinton, Il distance OF two
miles east, and to Salem, six miles
west. Throughout the city electricity,
in a 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 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 Ivy the Gas Com
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
50, 600, QUO, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase i'll the value of realty was
about S5,00O,OOO over the previous
assessment of four years ago. but pres
ent values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
nol1e, the Ponce de Leon, the Contincn-
tai, and Hotel FeliX-besides a number
of smaller ones. All of them are
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is well supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES.
The First National Bank has cap
ital of 500, 900, with a surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank capital of 500, 900; the Citizens
National iianll n capital of 500, 900; tho
Commercial National Bank a capital Of
500, O0G; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company a capital of
$3.50, 600; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company capital of 100000;
Vut J. i0CilOy LYNN tSI4lt IuSU NNul pdiiy a.
capital of 5000, 900; and several private
banking concerns transact large fnan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with Il
capital OF IS, 100000, pays out $1,000
per month i'll wages to employees. About
100000 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some CT the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works. 50, 900, 600
West End Iron Co. .......... 5000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. $50. 500, 600
American Bridge Works. 200. GOO
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works so, coo
Roanoke Canning Factory.... $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 200, 600
Roanoke Spike Factory. $1,000. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
Of 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill. 500, 600
Roanoke Brewery. IS, 900
Bridgewater Carriage Com
papy. Of Roanoke. ......... 5000
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co... so, 600
Roanoke Milling Company. 25 coo
Roanoke Gas and Water Co... 100000
Roanoke Electric Light Co.. $4,000
p. l.. Terry Milling Co. ...... 25,C0O
Diamond leo Co. ............ 5000
Roanoke Ice Co. ............ 35. 200
West End Brick and Tile
Works 10000
Adams Bros. 81 Payne Brick
Co Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
Five planning mills. .......... 10000
Two tobacco factories. ..... so, 900
Two cigar factories. 5000
One mattress factory. ..... o. 900