The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-01

largely attended meeting of the
Commercial Association listened last
night to Mr.. w. o. Hardaway's article
on Roanoke city as o tobacco market
and place Of manufacture. His article
was as follows:
"E. G. Pechin, Esq, President of the
Roanoke Commercial Association.
DEAR SIR: You have requested me
to express in writing my views as to tho
practicability and desirability of estab-
fishing market in Roanoke city for
tho sale and manufacture OF tobacco.
think above all things Roanoke needs
diversified industries, and nothing
would add more to her welfare and
prosperity than the successful establish
ment of market here for tho manufac-
ture and sale Of tobacco.
"From geographical standpoint Roa-
noke is admirably situated for that pur-
pose. The counties of Roanoke, Frank
lin, Bedford, Botetourt, Patrick, Henry
and Pittsylvania all grow large guam
tity of tobacco and are easily accessible
to this city. Phe Roanoke and South.
ern railroad has opened up tho tobacco
section of North Carolina, in which is
grown the finest bright tobacco in the
and Western railroad, under it's splen-
did management, gives us ample rail
road facilities with tho State of Ken
lucky, which produces nearly one half
OF tho tobacco raised in the United
States. So far as climatic influences
are concerned, there is no city better
adapted for the handling of tobacco in
warehouses and manufactures than
Roanoke.
1--WE have plenty of of good and cheap
laborers in this city, who arc familiar
with the working OF tobacco in all of it's
details. We have also men of capital
and indomitable pluck, who never fail
to succeed in anything that they under
take. This has been fully demonstrated
Try the achievem entS of these men. We
have many successful industries, but we
must get more ii we wish our city to
continue its remarkable growth.
"ltwill be seen from tho above that
we have tho tobacco, the railroad facili-
ties. favorable climate, suitable labor,
and abundant capital and pluck to es-
tablish tobacco market here IL we de-
sire it,
ut would seem that every one will adj
nit. without discussion, that tho result
of the establishment of such an add i.
tional industry would be most favorable
to the material prosperity of tho city.
L should say that unquestionably we
ought to do everything in our power to
establish tobacco warehouses for the
sale of tobacco, factories for the manu-
facture of chewing and smoking tobacco
and cigars, and, if possible factory for
tho manufacture Of cigarettes.
such industries will be of meal
culable benefit to Roanoke. Saw what
you will, tobacco in its growth and vari-
Gus forms of manufacture is tho great
est source of wealth that Virginia pos
scsses. What made Danvillo thriving,
prosperous city? Tobacco. Would
Petersburg be on tho map of VIRGINIA
but for tobacco? What made Lynch
burg one of the richest cities in the
United States per capita? Tobocco.
What gave Richmond its great
wealth and general prosperity but to-
bacco? Would the thriving twin sister
city OF Winston Salem, in North Caro-
Lima which has been united to our own
city by bonds OF steel, be in existence
but for its tobocco manufac tories? In
this connection, Durham, N c., must
not be forgotten. Tobacco has been to
her the "open sesame" to all the wealth
and prosperity that has made her name
known to all the world. That city, too,
like Winston Salem, is now in close
sympathy and interest with Roanoke.
thanks to the liberal and far-reaching
policy of tt great Norfolk and Western
railroad system.
shall Roanoke lose the opportunity
which is now before her? Should she
not realize that the new field that has
been opened up to her should be occu-
pied at once? Such industries, If they
are successfully established, will in
crease the value of real estate manifold;
numbers OF farmers would be attracted
mere to dispose of their tobacco and to
buy their supplies from our merchants:
hundreds OF our men, women and child
rem would find employment and this.
with other industries of similar char.
acter, would secure to our city a firm
and prosperous basis.
Can any one doubt that such results
would be OF the greatest possible adj
vantage to the future of Roanoke?
therefore 1T must be conceded that the
establishment of such industries is
exceedingly desirable, and that it would
rebound to the credit and tho financial
interest Of such of the wealthy and
public spirited citizens as will take
this matter in hand and push it to a
successful termination. But this, it
might be said, is but the material and
selfish view to take of the situation.
There is higher and nobler aspect.
There are many poor people here, our
citizens, our brothers, who only ask for
work. We cannot forget them, even if
we would. They are here; they helped
to make this town; they add to it's
wealth and prosperity.
mo city can prosper If the great
labori1g classes ask for work and can
not get 1T. Emile dc Laveleye saws:
There is in human affairs one order.
which is the best. That order is not