The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-24

improvements to DO Made in 1901.
Roanoke has q population of %, 900.
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years e it had
GOO people. It's growth at present is on
a moro solid basis and moro rapid growth
thanever before in it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
tho Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's altitude is 0O7 feet and it is sur
rounded by u 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 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 road filling
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in a short time.
Tho growth of the city dates from
1852, when the headquarters of tho 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 ] 700 hands, was established. Since
than millions of Io11ar. l,.D Do,..1
into tho city in the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
priscs.
Coal and iron and tho rich agricul-
tural lands Of the section have CON
tributcd to the growth.
Roanoke has siXty-iivc miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line cx-
tends to Vinton, adistance of two miles
east, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout the city electricity, in Il
short time, will take the place of horses
as motive power.
The water works arc sufficient to fur
nish a city of 5000 inhabitants. Tho
supply zones from n pure, cold spring
h a gushcs from the side of Mill noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
In the country. 1t is undoubtedly a
t>C non u vi hlQilC us
ease.
Light is furnished by the Gas Com
pany and the Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
the 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 $5,00O,0 900 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values arc many millions in cXcess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-IIotel Roa-
nokc, the Ponce dc Leon, the C%ontinen-
tai, and Hotel Fclix-besidcs 4 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 a capital
OF 500, 900, and a surplus of 500, 900; the
National Exchange Bank, with a CAPT
tai of 500, 900, has S25, 900 in Govern
mcnt bonds; the Citizens Bank has n
capital of $4,000; the Commercial Ma
tional Bank, with n capital of 500, 900,
has Il surplus of $40, 600; the Roanoke
Trust, Loan and Safe-Deposit Company,
with a capital Of 500, 600, has Il $500, 900
surplus; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, with 4 capital of
100000; the 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 arc a
number Of new churches and others
going up, with more soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
n Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists are erect
ing a fine church, and tho Lutherans
Will soon begin the erection of a $4,000
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. Tho 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 Il
capital of $1,000, 900, pays out $65, 1000
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000, 600 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of tho impcrtortant
M.ANUFACTURING PLANTS
arc as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works lem
ploy 1000 mem ............ 81 600, 900
Virginia Development Co... 5000, 900
West End Iron Co............ 4O0,0
Grocer Steel and Iron Co...... 500, 600
American Bridge Works...... 200, 900
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 a 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 900
General Repair Shops n. d