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

Roanoke has n population of 90, 900.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in tho Union. Eight years g it had
GOO people. Its growth at present is on
a moro solid basis and more rapid than
ever before in It's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is oo7 feet and 1t is sur
rounded by q rich agricultural and min
oral country.
Roanoke is distant just eight hours
ride from Washington and Norfolk, nine
from Baltimore, twelve from Philadel-
phia and fourteen from Now 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 a 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
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in O short time.
Tho growth of the city dates from
1882, when tho headquarters of tho 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 the establishment of
n n,f1nfrr md Nfhn~ h,o,~1aa a~k--
prises.
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, distance of two miles
cast, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout the city electricity, in o
short time, will take the place of horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish q city of so, 600 inhabitants. Tho
supply m from a pure, cold spring
h a gushes from the side of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in n city
in the 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
IN assessment of this year, is nearly
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works The
increase in tho value of realty was
about $4,000, 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-Hotcl Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel FeliX-besidcs O number
of smaller mes. 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 500, 600; the National Exchange
Bank, a capital of 500, 600; the Citi-
zen's Bank, a capital of S5O, 900; the
Commercial National Bank, a capital of
500, 200; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safc-Deposit Company, a capital ofS100,-
600; the Traders Loan, Trust and De-
posit Company, a capital of 500, 900;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
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 moro soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick ediGces. The Baptists are erect
ing a fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of a $40, 600
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. The city has q
number of excellent public and private
schools.
There are threo fire companies, with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of $4,000, 900, pays out S65, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
S. 5000, 600 q year is paid in the CITY for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1000 men) ........ So, 600, 900
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 600
West End Iron Co. .......... 400, 600
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 500, 600
American Bridge Works. e. 200, 900
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. SOC 0
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills....... CO., 900
Roanoke Spike Factory....... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of a 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill. 10000
General Repair Shops N. &
w. X,
General Repair Shops Shenan-