The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-25

Roanoke has n population of 90, 900.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in tho Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
q more solid basis and more rapid growth
than ever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction Of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's altitude is 9O7 feet and it Is sur
rounded by a 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 Wost-
ern railroads, both trunk lines, and is
easily reached from any section Of tho
country.
The Roanoke and Southern railroad
is now boing built to this place from
Winston, N. c., and will in q 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 Dad filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in a short timo.
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
okc Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent LOO 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-fve miles Of streets
and eight miles Of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line ex-
tends to Vinton, n distance of two miles
cast, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout tho city electricity, in n
short time, will take the place of horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish a city Of so, 600 Inhabitants. The
supply comes from a pure, cold spring
that gushcs from the side of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in tho country. 1t is undoubtedly q
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
h assessment of this year, is nearly
$4,000, 600, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works Tho
increase in tho value of realty was
about S., 200, 900 over tho 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-
nolic, the Ponce de Leon, the Continen-
tai, and Hotel Felix-besides O 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 q capital
of 500, 900, and a surplus of S25, 900; the
National Exchange Bank, with a CAPT
tai of 500, 600, has S25, 900 in Govern
ment bonds; the Citizens Bank has Il
capital of $4,000; the Commercial Ma
tional Bank, with Il capital Of 800, 900,
has a surplus of $40, 900; the Roanoke
Trust, Loan and Safe-Deposit Company,
with a capital of 500, 600, has q $500, 600
surplus; the Traders. Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, with O capital OF
500, 900; tho Fidelity Loan and Trust
Company, and several private banking
concerns, transact a large financial
business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there are a
number of new churches and others
going up, with more soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifces. The Baptists are erect
ing a fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection Of q $40, 600
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.
Tho Roanoke Machine Works, with %
capital of S., 900, 900, pays out S65, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
$1,000 900 u year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the impertortant
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1000 mem .......... .s5, 900, 900
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 900
West End Iron Co............ 400, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 500, 600
American Bridge Works. $50. 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. .................. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. so, GOO
Roanoke Rolling Mills....... 90, 600
Roanoke Spike Factory....... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of a 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plato MILL. 500, 900
General Repair Shops N. s.