The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-28
ROANOKE'S WONDERFUL RECORD
The Story of Its Growth Briefly
e Told.
a City of Over $4,000 People, With MILL
ions in Grent Variety of Industries.
What Has Been Done and What Is
Still Doing for the Upbuilding of the
Center of virginia's Industrial Devel-
opment.

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
is on more solid basis and more rapid
than ever before in its history.
Roanoke is located at the junction Of
: the Shenandoah and Roanoke valleys.
Its altitude is 9O7 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
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 q short time.
The growth of the city dates from
1889, 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 ], 7CO hands, was established. Since
then millions of dollars have flowed
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 has siXty-fve miles of streets
and eight miles of street railway inside
the corporate limits. A dummy line
extends to Vinton, a 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 city of $4,000 inhabitants. The
supply comes from 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
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
so,OOO.o0O, besides the railroad property
and the Roanoke Machine Works. The
about 100000 over the previous
assessment of four years ago; but pres
ent values are many millions in excess
of those given.
There are four fine hotels-Hotel Roa-
noke, the Ponce de 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, 900; the Citizens
National Bank capital of 500, 600; the
Commercial National Bank capital of
100000; the Roanoke Trust, Loan and
Safe Deposit Company capital OF.
f250,000; the Traders Loan, Trust and
Deposit Company a capital of $1,000
the Fidelity Loan and Trust Company
capital of $500, 600; and several private
banking concerns transact largo finan-
cial business
The Roanoke Machine Works, with a
capital of SIS, 100000, pays out S65, 900
per month in wages to employees. About
$4,000, 900 year is paid III the city for
wages.
Some OF the important
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
are as follows:
Roanoke Machine Works. >. SIS, 900, 900
West End Iron Co. 100000
Grocer Steel and Iron Co... 500, 600
American Bridge Works. $50. 200, 600
Rifles Hydraulic Engine
Works $4,000
Roanoke Canning Factory. $4,000
Roanoke Rolling Mills. 200, 900
Roanoke Spike Factory $4,000
Do Alyn Irn