The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-23
IN THE HOTELS.
Interesting Chats With Various
Visitors to Roanoke.

'ioohAS on ouO pOrCu VI f1OC6l 0OHuOkS
yesterday afternoon was tall, fine
looking. digDlfied old gentleman with
thought and decision Of character
stamped upon his brow. He was talk
ing OF the South and said: "Eleven
years ago came to the South weighing
one hundred and ten pounds. ex-
pected to live only short time, but to
my surprise improved every day and
since that time no man has enjoyed bot
ter health. That was the cause of nv
leaving Chicago and making my home
in the Southern States, which shall
never regret. for indeed l regard the
future OF this section as the brightest
that any country ever had.
During the next twenty-five years
the South will be to the Union what
the Northwest has been during the last
twenty-five years. For three years
have lived in Richmond and during that
time l have studied the resources of
the State closely and this study leads
me to believe that no State is richer in
mineral wealth than the Old dominion.
Occupying the position geographically
that 1t does with its mineral resources
and fine harbors, Virginia is destined
to be, in few years, the leading South
ern State in wealth and population.
"Cities have sprung up over it in the
past few years as il by magic and this
is but an indication of what is to follow.
Among these towns the most remarka.
BILE is this city, that has grown in ten
years from an unimportant village to
city of $4,000 inhabitants. But l am
glad to see that the boom era in Roa-
noke history has passed. Her growth
from this time on will be healthy and
steady"
lie meditated for for few moments,
looking out over the city towards the
green valley IN the far distance, and
said: what pity it is that the
negro cannot be replaced by Caucasian
labor in this State. II Northern or
German farmers could take his place
there wales would bloom as q rose in q
very few months. 1t is an excellent
country for market gardening, but so
long as negro labor is relied upon it
will never be carried on to any great
extent"
This gentleman was general manager
of the National Building and Invest
mont Association. w. T.. Bradley, of
Richmond who was the first man to
introduce the national feature OF the
building and loan association into Vir-
ginia. Mr.. Bradley returned to Rich
mond on the noon train.
At the Ponce dc Leon yesterday were
two gentlemen who are often in the city
of Washington and attend the sessions
OF Congress when there with consider
able regularity. They were discussing
the scenes that they had witnessed
when there, and one of them said,
Some years ago was in the galleries
OF the lower house, and listened to a
speech that shall not soon forget 1t
was soon after Congressman Martin, OF
Texas, had made himself famous by
blowing out the gas in New York
hotel.
1.-The House was considering sundry
appropriation bills and all speakers
were limited to ten minutes each.
Finally bill came up to appropriate a
certain amount for the publication OF u
work on stock raising. Major Martin
had never made a,speech in the House,
but he was an old stock raiser himself
and this measure interested him greatly.
He arose and all eyes were turned upon
him. lie was truly at that moment the
observed OF all observers. With one
hand deep down in his pocket and the
other extended in the air, with fingers
spread, he said:
"Mr. Speaker: l arise to advocate a
great measure. have investigated this
here subject and it, sir, is one worthy
tho attention Of Congress. tell YOU.
sir. this here cow book is the greatest
book ever printed since Jesus Christ's
sermon on the mount, and hope every
man in this house will vote for it,
| With this he resumed his seat while the
house and galleries were convulsed
with laughter.
Martin, anxious to secure as MANY
votes as possible for the appropriation,
strolled into ono of the cloak rooms
where the late Sunset Cox was convers.
ing with u fellow member Cox repre-
sented tho Wall street district in Con.
grers. Martin abruptly said: Cox are
any of your constituency engaged in
raising stock?' Cox replied with his
ready wit: Yes, Martin, and in water
ing it too Then replied Martin: You
will vote for this hero COW book?' On
being assured that he would he went
away perfectly sitisfed without having
seen the force of Cox's reply. However,
whilo somewhat green, Martin was a
level headed business man in his own
way. and very much supe rior to his Far.
mers Alliance SUCCESSOR
Why Mr.. Elkins Declines to Run
WHEELING, w Va, July 22-In