The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-28

Roanoke has population of $4,000.
It's citizens are from nearly every State
in the Union. Eight years ago it had
600 people. Its growth at present is on
moro solid basis and moro rapid than
ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction of
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is oO7 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-
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 years
time open up the trade of the Carolinas
to this section. The Valley Branch Of
the Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexing-
ton, forty miles distant, md road filing
the connecting link will be constructed
to Roanoke in 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 tho Roam
oke Machine Works. employing at pre-
sent 1,700 hands, was established. Since
then millions OF dollars have flowed
into tho city in the establishment of
manufactures and other business enter
prises.
Coal and iron and the rich agricul-
tural lands of the section have con-
tributed to the growth.
Roanoke has siXty-fve miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
tho 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 a
short time, will take the place OF horses
as motive power.
The water works arc sufficient to fur
nish 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 q
specific for many forms of kidney dis
case.
Light is furnished by tho Gas Com
Power Company.
The property valuation, according to
tho assessment OF this year, is nearly
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works Tho
increase in tho value Of realty was
about S5,000,000 over the previous
assessment OF four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in xccss
OF those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
nollo, the Ponce dc Leon, the COntinen-
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 capital
of 100000; the National Exchange
Bank, capital of 500, 600; the Citizens
National Bank, capital of 100000;
the Commercial National Bank, a CAPT.
tai of 100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan
and Safe Deposit Company, capital Of
S25O, 900; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company, a capital of 100000
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company,
a capital of 5000. 600, and several private
banking concerns transact q large
financial business.
All the leading denominations have
churches in the city, and there are
number OF new churches going
up, with more soon to be started.
The Southern Methodist, Presbyterian
and Catholic churches have handsome
brick ediflces. The Baptists are erect
ing fine church, and the Lutherans
will soon begin the erection of $40, 900
structure. The Christian sect and
Northern Methodist churches also have
neat houses of worship. The city has a
number of excellent public and private
sch ools.
There are three fire companies, with
$50 members and modern equipments.
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of S5,0O0,OOO, pays out $500
per month in wages to employees. About
S., 100000 a year is paid in the city for
wages.
Some of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works lem
ploy 1000 mem SIS, 600, 900
Virginia Development Co. -. 100000
West End Iron Co. ........... 40O,O 900
Grocer Steel and Iron Co. 500,0
American Bridge Works. ..... 10000
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 Plato MILL. 500, 900
General Repair Shops N. &
w. X. r.. ........
General Repair Shops Shenan-
dCoh Uo11ou Do;1uo.l