The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-23
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
is Still Doing--Notwithstandin tho
Close Money Market $40 200. 900 In Inn
provements Already in Sight---The
Population, Industries and Advant-
ages of the Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has a population Of over22,
900. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago il
had 600 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.
It's altitude is GOT 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 Philadel-
phia, and fourteen from New York. 1t
Is situated at the junction of the Shen-
andoah Valley and Norfolk and West
crn 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
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington
forty miles distant, and 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, and the Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent LIT hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
into the city in tho 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 siXty-ive 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 a short time, will take the place of
horses as motive power
The water works are sufficient to fur
nish o city Of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from a pure, cold spring
that gushes from the side of Mill Noun
tain, and is without equal in any city
in the 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.
The property valuation, according to
the assessment of this year, is nearly
$1,000 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value of realty was
about S5,OOO,OOO 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 81 otel Roa-
noke, the Ponce dc Leon, the Continent
tai, and Hotel Felix-besides 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 cap
ital of 100000, with surplus of
100000; the National Exchange
Bank capital of 500, OOO the Citizens
National Bank capital OF 500, 600; the
Commercial National Bank a capital of
100000 the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital Of
$780, 600; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company capital of 500, 600;
capital of 100000; and several private
banking concerns transact large finan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of S5,000,000, pays out sos, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
S5,000,000 year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke alachine Works . . IS, OOO, 900
West End Iron Co. 500, 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 10000
American Bridge Works. ..... 10000
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works Observation-Disclosures. so 1000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills...... 100000
Roanoke Spike Factory .... $4,000
Roanoke Iron CO., consisting
of a 2OO-ton Furnace. Muck
Bar Mill and Plate Mill.. 500, 900
Roanoke Brewery. $4,000
Bridgewa ter Carriage Com
pany, of Roanoke. ......... $4,000
0amblll Flourlng Mill Co... $4,000
Roanoke Milling Company... 25 600
Roanoke Gas and Water Co 100000
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 ............... 10000
Adams Bros. s. Payne Brick
Co .............. $4,000
Five planning mills. .......... 100000
IL al.