The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-12
ROANOkE'SWONDERFUL RECORD
The Story of Its Growth Briefly
Told
a City OF Over $4,000 People, with Mill:
ions In n Great Variety of Industries.
AZ What Has Been Done and What is
Still Doing for the Upbuilding of the
Center of virginia's Industrial Devel-
opment.

Roanoke has population OF over22,-
OOO 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 it's history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 9O7 feet and it is sur
rounded by 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 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 tho Carolinas to this section
next fall. The Valley branch of tho
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
forty miles distant, and road filling
she connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in a 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, and the Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent LIZ 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 tho rich agricultu-
raj lands of the section have contribu-
ted to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Vinton, distance of two
miles east, and to Salem, six miles
west. Throughout the city electricity,
in short time, will take the place of
horses as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish city of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from a pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill Mo
tain, and is without equal in any city
in the country. It is undoubtedly
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
the assessment of this year, is nearly
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,O00,O00 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
emit values are many millions in excess
OF those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
Qoke, the Ponce de 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 cap
ital of 100000, with a surplus of
Bank a capital of 500, 600; the Citizens'
National Bank capital of 500, 600; the
Commercial National Bank a capital of
100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company Il capital Of
$25O,Oc0; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company q capital Of 100000;
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company a
capital of 100000; and several private
banking concerns transact large 6nan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of IS, 900, 900, pays out S65, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
as, 900, 900 year is paid in tho city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works. i. E. SIS, 900, GOO
West End Iron Co. ........... 100000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 100000
American Bridge Works. ZOO
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. 200, 900
Roanoke Spike Factory ...... $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of a 20o-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill. -. 500, 900
Roanoke Brewery. .......... $4,000
Bridgewater Carriage Com
pany, of Roanoke. ........ $4,000
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co. 80. $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company. $4,000
Roanoke Gas and Water Co... $780, 900
Roanoke Electric Light Co... $4,000
p. l.. Terry Milling Co........ $4,000
Diamond Ice Co. $4,000
Roanoke Ice Co. ...........'... $4,000
West End Brick and Tile
Works y. 10000
Adams Bros. 81 Payne Brick
Co $4,000
Five planning mills. .......... 10000
Two tobacco factories....... $4,000