The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-03

Roanoke has population Of $4,000.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
q moro solid basis and more rapid than
ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at tho junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 0o7 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 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 and Southern railroad
is now being built to this place from
Winston, n. c., and will in years
to this section. The Valley Branch of
the Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexing-
ton, forty miles distant, and road filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in q short time.
Tho 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 pre-
sent ], ZOO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into tho city in tho establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands of the section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-five miles ct 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 a
short time, will take tho place of horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish a city OF $4,000 Inhabitants. Tho
supply comes from pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in the country. 1t is undoubtedly q
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
80, 100000, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works Tho
Increase in tho value Of realty was
about S5,000,000 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in xccsS
of those given.
There are four fine hotols-Hotel Roa-
noke, tho Ponce do Leon, the Continent
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 capital
OF 500, 900; tho National Exchange
Bank, capital Of 500, 600; the Citizens
National Bank, a capital of 500, 1000;
the Commercial National Bank, a capt.
tai of 100000; the Roanoke Trust Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital Of
$3.50, 900; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, capital OF 100000;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital Of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact large
financial business.
churches in the city, and there are
number Of new churches going
up, with moro soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists are erect
ing fine church. and the 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 a
capital of S5,oOO,OOO, pays out sos, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000, 900 q year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1,600 mem IS 1000, 600
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 900
West End Iron Co. 40O,00
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 100000
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. 500, 900
General Repair Shops n. tS
w. Il. r.. .....
General Repair Shops Shcnan-
doah Valley Railroad.