The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-19

tern railroad system, and the cOnStruc-
ton of the Baltimore and Ohio OF tho
Chesapeake and Ohio to Roanoke, ono
OF which is inevitable, i; will greatly
add to the Importance of the city as q
railroad center. = is, too, only ques-
ton of short time whom the Norfolk
and Western will have an independent
limo into Washington, d. C.
The assessed valuation of real estate
in 1SS2 was $3.50, 1854. In 1892 it was
Sl2,645,425. The capital in business
on which license is paid, is $1,000, 600
The iron industry is the chief impe-
tus to the growth Of the city. The va
rious manufacturing enterprises en-
ploy 5000 people, and those in course of
construction will add another thousand
to the number. The annual amount
paid out to wage ,earners is more than
So. 600, 900.
Tho capital invested in manufacture
ing enterprises is SIS, 125, 900, and in land
companies, in round numbers Sll ,OOO.-
600.
Roanoke has eight building and loan
associations, with d subscribed capital
OF $1,000, 600.
The banking capital amounts to 81
O00,G and the banking institution of
the city did business in 1890 amount
ing to So, 100000.
tions, representing the Catholic, Luth-
eran, Methodist, Episcopalian, Presby-
terrain, Baptist, United Brethren and
Christian denominations. have over
1000 communicates, and the church
property is valued at 100000. =
The city is surrounded by fertile
agricultural region, Roanoke county
producing the finest wheat of any part
of Virginia. Roanoke is fast growing in
Importance as a wheat market and it's
Touring mills now turn out $50 barrels
Of flour daily.
The public schools have grown with
the city. Tho first ward building is
handsome two story structure with &C
commodations for 500 pupils. The third
ward and colored school buildings are
neat and comfortable brick houses.
The school board has rented two build
ings and established schools to meet
the growing needs of the city. The free
holders voted S75, 900 in bonds last
spring for school buildings, and for the
Improvement of the school facilities.
The five schools with twenty eight
teachers, now have about 1900 pupils
enrolled.
That Roanoke will continue it's quick
step march on the highway of progress.
is evident to every one who is acquainted
with it's surroundings, its achievements
and its opportunities.
1t requires no long drawn logical ar
gument to convince the str anger OF this.
III the simple statement of the facts will
not convince, a visit to Roanoke and
close examination Of the causes which
have led to its growth and its present
condition will.
The early promoters of the develop
ment Of the Valley and Southwest Vir-
0inia n id in hnninnincr al;
pate the wonderful success that has
crowned their efforts. But now they
look forward to still greater things than
the past has revealed. The capitalists
comprising the Norfolk and Western
syndicate have been the leaders, not
only in Roanoke but throughout the en-
tire section that has been invigorated
with new life.
When they first put their money into
this region ten years ago Roanoke was
Immediately made the center of all
their operations and has been their
especial favorite. There has been no
have made Roanoke substantial with
their millions, have millions more to
insure the continued growth of the city.
The people who have been attracted
here by the enterprises of the capitalists
have united for the general good in
every enterprise, and filled their places
we'll as factors in what has been accom-.
plished.
Roanoke has reached that point where
it is not so much dependent upon out
side capital, but this makes the induce.
ment for the investor still greater. The
industries that are established, with the
raw material almost at their doors, will
sustain a population of $4,000 Should
no more industries be secured the city
will, in few years, reach this popula.
ion. Bat it will not stop here.
The industries that will start up with
in the near future will create demand
for others. AS the mineral resources
are developed the iron industries al
RET dy established must of necessity in
crease their capacity, and new ones
will spring up.
The completion of the Roanoke and
Southern and the construction of the
Baltimore and Ohio or Chesapeake and
Ohio to Roanoke will enable the city to
extend her trade, and will add to her
territory new fields of raw material,
adding industry after industry. md in
creasing the inducements that have al
ready led Northern manufacturers to
seek this more favorable locality.
The possibilities of Roanoke cannot
be comprehended, for they are limited
only by the enterprise and energy OF
her citizens, who have never yet been
bailled by the size of the pocket books
and bank accounts of the thousands that
have put their dollars in Roanoke, and
the thousands that will soon follow the
footsteps of their wiser fellow citizens;
and by the extent of the wonderful re-
sources of her adjacent territory that
are yet unknown. g. .
A strong board of trade has recently