The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-26

Roanoke has population of 2,Oo0
Its citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
q more solid basis and more rapid than
ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
It's altitude is 0O7 feet and It'll sur
rounded by a rich agricultural and min
eral country.
Roanoke is distant just 4 ut hours
ride from Washington and NJ. folk, nine
from baltimore. twelve from Philadel-
phia and fourteen from New York. 1t
is situated at tho 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.
Tho Roanoke and Southern railroad
is now being built to this place from
Winston, n. c., and will in years
time open up the trade Of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch of
tho Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexing-
ton, forty miles distant,and road filing
the 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, tho Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and the Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pro-
sent roo hands, was established Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into tho city in tho establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
priscs.
Coal and iron and tho rich agricul-
tural lands of the section hayo con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has sixty-five miles of streets
and eight miles Of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line ex-
tends to Vinton, distance OF two miles
east, and to Salem, six miles west.
Throughout the city electricity, in q
short time, will tako the place of horses
as motive power.
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish a city of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill moun-
tain, and is without equal in any city
in tho country. 1t is undoubtedly a
specific for many forms of kidney dis
ease.
Light is furnished by tho Gas Com
pany and tho Electric Light and Motor
Power Company.
Tho property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and tho Roanoke Machine Works Tho
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,000,000 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in Xcess
of those given.
There arc four fine hotels-IIotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce de Leon, tho Continen-
tai, and Hotel Felix-besides q number
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES,
The First National Bank has capital
of 100000; the National Exchange
Bank, capital OF Sio0, 900; the Citizens
National Bank, capital of $4,000
the Commercial National Bank, a cap:-
tai of 100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, a capital of
$500 the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, a capital of $1,000
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital of 100000, and several private
banking concerns transact o large
financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there are
number of new churches going
up, With moro soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick edifices. The Baptists arc erect
ing fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of a $40, 900
structure. The Christian. sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. The city has
number of excellent public and private
schools.
There are three fire companies. with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with
capital Of S500O,0OO pays out $50. 900
per month in wages to employees. About
IS, 00O,000 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works (em-
ploy 1000 men) .S5, 900, 900
Virginia Development Co. 5000, 900
West End Iron Co. ........... 400, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. go. 500, 900
American Bridge Works. ..... 200, OOO
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works. $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. ...... 10000
Roanoke Spike Factory. $50. $4,000
Roanoke Iron Co., consisting
of 200 ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, 900
General Repair Shops N. &