The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-08
.ROANOKE'S WONDERFUL RECORD
The Story of lis Growth Briefly
Told.
a City of Over $4,000 People, With MILL
ions In u Great Variety of Industries.
What Has Been Done and What is
Still Doing for the UpbuildinS of the
Center of Cirginia's Industrial Devcl-
Z opment

Roanoke has population of over22,
600 It's citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people. Its growth at present
is on a more 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 907 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 Philadcl-
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 open up the
trade of the Carolinas to this section
next fall. The Valley branch OF the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
forty miles distant, and a road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in Il 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, ana the Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent 1T, hands, was established. 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 sixtyfve miles of streets
and eight miles Of street railway inside
tho corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Vintcn, IL distance Of two
+ miles east, and TO Salem, six miles
west. Throughout the city electricity,
in a short timc, will take the place of
horses as motive power.
The water works are sufficient 20 fur
nish city of so, 900 inhabitants. The
supply comes from a pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side OF Mill Noun
tain, and is without equal i'll any city
In tho country. 1t is undoubtedly a
specific for many forms OF kidney dis
ease.
Light is furnished by the Gas Com
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company
Tho property valuation, according TO
the assessment Of this year, is nearly
50, 600, 0U0, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value Of realty was
about S500O,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-liotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the Continen-
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 a cap
ttal of 100000 with IA surplus OF
100000 the National Exchange
Bank "A capital Of Sl0o, 900: the Citizens
National Hank q capital of 500, 600; the
Commercial National Bank capital o.
100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital OF
e250,OO0 the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company capital OF 500. COG;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company IA
capital of $500, COO; and several private
banking concerns transact Il large finan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital OF 81, 000,C00, pays out S65,0CC
rrr month III wages 10 employees. About
1000, O0O year is paid in Inc city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANuFAcrumNG PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works. 50 { 90 O0C
West End Iron Co.. 100000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 100000
American Bridge Works. .. 200, 0OG
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10000
Roanoke Canning Factory. 49,. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. 0,OOC
Roanoke Spike Factory $500. 10000
Roanoke Iron Co., Consisting
of a 2Ooton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill.... 500.O 600
Roanoke brewery ....... $4,000
Bridgcwatcr Carriage Com
pany, OF Roanoke. $1,000
Gam bill FIGURING Mill Co. 80. $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company... IS DOC
Roanoke Gas and Water Co.. 25O,00C
Roa noko Electric Light Co.. 10000
P. l.. Terry-Milling Co.. . $4,000
diamond Ice Co............. $4,000
Roanoke Ice Co.............. $4,000
West End Brick and Tile
WORKS ................ 90 00C
Adams Bros. e. Payne Brick
70 ................. 25, OU(
Five planning mills. 100, OOO
Two tobacco factories. . $4,000
D<.t,- F..