The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-08
ROANOKE THE MAGIC CITY.
The Story of Its Growth Boiled
Down.
what Roanoke Has Done and What She
10 Still Notwithstanding the
Close Money Market s1O,Ooo,O0 In I'm
provements Already In Sight---Tho
Formulation, Industries and Advant-
ages of tho Wonder of the Valley.

Roanoke has population of over22,
600. Its citizens are from nearly every
State in the Union. Eight years ago it
had 600 people Its growth at present
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction OF
the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 907 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 Ph:ladel-
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 the Carolinas to this section
next fall. The Valley branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio runs to Lexington,
forty miles distant, and road filling
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, the Shenandoah Val
ley road was completed, and the Roam
oke Machine Works, employing at pre-
sent 1,TCO hands, was established. Since
khnn nF nj hn
into the city in the 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 mas siNty-fve miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
tho corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Vinton, 4 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 Il city of $4,000 Inhabitants. The
supply comes from q 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
$4,000, 900, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
increase in the value OF realty was
about S5,000.000 over tho previous
assessment OF four years age; but pres
ent values are many millions in excess
OF those given.
There are four fine hotcls-Hotel Roa.
noke, tho Ponce de Leon, the Continen-
tai, and Hotel Fclix-bcsides number
crowded and constantly turning away
guests.
Roanoke is we'll supplied with
BANKING FACILITIES.
The First National Bank has n cap
ital of 100000, with surplus Of
800 600; the National Exchange
Bank capital Of Sl00,00O; the Citizens
National Bank n capital OF $500, 900; tho
Commercial National Hank capital OF
500, 900; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company Il capital Of
S,5O,0OO; the Traders Loan, Trust anG
Deposit Company a capital OF 500, 900
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company
capital of $500. 900; and several private
banking concerns transacta large finan
:ial business
The Roanoke Machine Works. with
capital of 100000 pays out So, COZ
per month in wages to employees. A bou
$1,000, 600 a year is paid in the city fol
wages.
Some Of the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works So, 600, OOl
West End Iron Co. ........... 500, 00t
Grocer Steel and Iron Co.. 49,. 500, 00l
American Bridge Works. 49,. 200, O0t
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works so, 00(
Roanoke Canning Factory.... $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mils....... 200, DOT
Roanoke Spike Factory. ...... $4,000
Roanoke Iron CO., Consisting
of a 2O0-ton Furnace, Muck
Bar Mill and Plate MILL. 500, COZ
Roanoke Brewery .,.......... $4,000
Bridgewatcr Carriage Com
pany, Of Roanoke. ....... 5,OO(
Gambill FIGURING Mill Co... $1,000
Roanoke Milling Company. :. % coo
Roanoke Gas and Water Co. =. $50, 0OC
Roanoke Electric Light Co... $4,000
p. L. Terry Milling Co.. 81. 00(
Diamond Ice Co. $4,000
Roanoke Ice Observation-Disclosures. $4,000
; 1Kcst End Brick and Tile
Works ... 10000
Adams Bros. & Payne Brick
Co commandments. $4,000
Five planning mills. .......... 1000
Two tobacco factories. ...... $4,000
Two cigar factories. ..... 5000
One mattress factory. ..... 25 O0C
1 ILL. 4A1...4