The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-23

One of the surest signs that Roanoke's
population is steadily increasing is the
growing demand for business houses and
residences, this demand being beyond
the supply. A TIMES reporter talked
with number of rental agents yester-
day. and they unanimously endorsed the
above statement.
The time was when almost any kind
of she'll denominated house could be
rented here with scarcely an effort and
at good price, but now the inquiry is
for better class Of houses, and very
few people are satisfied with anything
else
Ono agency reports only one vacant
house on its books. another none at all.
and others only few. All assert, how
ever, that they arc unable to supply the
demand.
The agents agree that owners of lots
In desirable locations would realize good
returns for money invested in buildings,
and that no better investment could be
made in Roanoke. There is, of course.
no difference of opinion about Roanoke
being the safest place in Virginia to
invest money in buildings or anything
else. ''This has been demonstrated too
often to need argument, or admit of a
doubt" said one agent who is recog-
nized as most Lowell headed business
man. He has good income from houses
erected by him as a permanent invest
ment and knows whereof he spealse.
Ills testimony is confirmed by every
man who is at all familiar with the loca-
a rlh fn l,1D 4
Magic City.
Tho following statements were made
by the rental agents yesterday to the
reporter:
HarJsook 81 Addison: 1--WE have a
pressing demand for houses that we
cannot supply. The inquiries arc mostly
from Pennsylvania and Ohio and from
skilled mechanics. Tho very class of
people we want to locate among us. AS
they find employment in the West End
they very naturally want residence
close to their work, but tho houses are
not there for rent. Nearly every in
quirer wants u good house and is willing
to pay good rental. 1t would be q
good thing if THE TIMES could persuade
some OF our people to put part of their
surplus cash in good residenc s. Many
own real estate and could build upon it
with an absolute guarantee of a. big in
terest on the money invested"
Hogue " Gum: "We cannot supply
the demand for a good class of resi-
dences in the West End, as we'll as
other desirable locations in the CITY
We can, without trouble or DELAY, Sc
cure good tenants for houses with five
to seven rooms. A majority OF inquiries
are from new Corners, who desire to To-
cate within o convenientdistance of the
industrial plants where they find en-
pioyment. AS soon as an electric street
railway is construc ted to tho Roanoke
Development Company's tract, employees
In that section will have no serious OBJ
lection to locating on or near the street
car line In any part of the city. We
know OF no better Investment than
good houses, and capitalists would con.
suit their best interests by building at
once"
w. Watts & Co.: 1--WE have fair
demand for good houses centrally loca-
ted. Eight-room houses rent quickest.
Inc day of small, badly constructed and
ventilated houses has passed in Roam
oke The great need is moro good
houses"
w. M. Wager e Co.: "The demand for
houses, business and residence, exceeds
the supply. We have just secured,
without the least trouble, tenant for
the last vacant house on our rent lists.
GOOD houses rent quicker than poor
ones. The demand is confined to no
particular location. A great many poo
pie want houses, and they want them in
Roanoke"
G. O'Leary & Co.: "We have only one
vacant house and this is rare occur
renee with us. There is great demand
for houses in the southwest portion of
the city, as we'll as other good localities.
Ours are six and seven-room houses,
we'll constructed and ventilated. The
better tho house the less trouble we
nave in securing good tenant We
need moro good houses in Roanoke"
"Dupuy ~ Taliaferro: 1.-THE demand
for residences is brisk and urgent, and
there are many inquiries for business
houses, but unfortunately we cannot
supply them. There is no trouble nor
delay in renting houses in any part of
the city IL they are comfortable. Only
good houses are in demand"
j. L. Wingfeld: 1.-THE demand for
houses in desirable locations was never
greater. The supply is short, unfor-
tunately, and we are compelled to turn
many applicants away. People want
good houses, and individuals or corpor-
N'ASAo !" nv VIII outlu bulS GLASS Iuty
rely upon a profitable and permanent
investment"
Gray ~ Boswell: 1--WE have no desir-
able houses vacant. Good residences
arc in demand, and the desire for better
quarters is constantly increasing. Roa-
noke needs more good houses to &C.
comodate people who are continuously
pooring in, and the shrewd capitalist
should not need q pointer to discover
where his interest lies. Real es tate is