The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-02
new YEARS DAY IN ROANOKE.
The Holiday Not Observed Ex-
cept BY the Banks.
Tho Now Year Starts Out With Gloomy
Weather But Bright Prospects for
Ronnoke-Some OF tho Improvements
Already I'm Sight-A Big Building Boom
and Many Moro Industries to Como.


New Years Day was like the last day
of tho old year with the exception that
it was moro dreary and more gloomy.
The Same snow was on the ground, tho
Same mud voXcd tho throngs of pcdes-
TRANS and splashed into tho faces of
those who rode chaisc, "tho same
clouds and mists even tried to mako
Roanoke feel respondent on the first day
of tho New Year, but nevertheless it
was New Years Day.
The legal holiday was not observed
except by tho banks, and the busy bus
tic OF business went on rs on other days.
a few of tho hustling business mon
pa used long enough yesterday to retro
Spcct tho year that has just passed, and
contemplate the growth of Roanoke.
However much the new year may look
like tho old, it is hard to trace in it any
resemblance Of the last new year.
When Roanoke welcomed the. advent
of 1890 there we're vacant lots whore
now stand magniiic Mt BRICK structures.
busy manufacturing plants. and beauti-
full residences. The vacant lots on JEFF
ferson street have been filled from Rail
road avenue to Campbell street, ard
now solid front is presented on both
sides.
Tho last Now Year found but two
large hotels in Roanoke. Now there
arc four and one Of the original two has
hecn doubled. Another large hotel is
in course OF cree ion. Marshalls Cafe
has been doubled, and Ormsby's is one
of the products of the old year. THE
TIMES building and the rows of other
elegant building on Campbell street,
the largo wholesale warehouse erected
by Mr. Terry along the Norfolk and
Western railroad, hundreds of residences
dotting the hills and ncstlinS in the
valleys OF Roanoke havo arisen since
the last year.
Tho now industries enumerated in
Yesterdays TIMES employ several hun
dred operatives, and Roanoke's popula-
zion is 5000 more than one year ago.
The Roanoke and Southern railroad
was by no means u certainty one year
ago, but now the active operations Of
constructing the road into Roanoke are
in progress. Salem and Roanoke have
been united by Il dummy line, and other
lines Of railroads are in contemplation.
IKE TIMES, i'll its improved form, is
not the least OF tho good things wrought
10y the year 1880.
Roanoke starts out in The new year,
1891. on broader basis for growth than
it stood upon year ago. She is looking
forward TO the contamination Of many
things that will make 81 an important
year in her history.
building operations arc being pushed
forward as rapidly as possible and The
cry for houses continues. Preparations
for the most extensive building cyol
done in Roanoke will begin as
| soon "a tho winter weather is over.
Many now industries arc already ir
sight that will bring many more people
| to Roanoke.
Before tho dawn OF another new veal
the Roanoke and Southern will connect
Roanoke and Winston. Before many
| months electric cars will dash through
the streets Of the Magic City.
There is ground for hope that before
anothcr-car many thousand dollars will
he spent for public mprovcmcnts-tha
| Roanoke will have much better streets
an electric fire alarm, better lights and
& through sewer system.