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

Ten years ago the sight of the build
ing from which this paper is issued was
q marshy swamp. The rolling hills sur
rounding it were covered by the native
forests and growing wheat fields.
Strictly speaking the history of Roa-
noke dates from February 3, 1882. when
this place of destiny threw aside the old
name Of Big Lick for tho moro eupho-
NOUS and meaning name Of Roanoke.
About the time the town of Roanoke
was chartered by an act of the legisla-
ture, an era of progress dawned upon
this region. the history Of which is in
separately linked with the history of the
Shenandoah Valley railroad.
Prior to this time Big Lick was a
sleepy, easy going, old-time Virginia
village, with population OF 400 people,
dependent entirely upon the small trade
OF the agricultural population Of the
surrounding country,
The Shenandoah Valley railroad was
projected as early as 1867, and, after
overcoming various difficulties, the first
train from IIagerstown ran into Roam
oke June ~, lsS2. The old Atlantic
Mississippi and Ohio railroad has been
purchased and reorganized into the Nor
folk and Western by the same capital
lists who projected and built the Shenan-
doah Valley road, and they were practi
cally under the same management. The
headquarters of this new railroad sys-
tenn were removed 10 Roanoke, and the
young city Immediately ecame the cen
ter Of one of the most i'm o>rtant railroad
systems of the South. he Roanoke
Machine Works, with a capital OF ST.
100000, we're mediately erected, and
soon the easygoing Old village Of Zig
Lick was transformed into the live,
active and progressing city Of Roanoke.
The Roanoke Land and Improvement
Company was organized and did much
to promote the growth Of tho new city.
One industry followed another. con-
stantly increasing the population. Tine
different lines OF business made nsces
sary were rapidly h!'ed, and by 1884,
Roanoke was a city o. such modern
Improvements as gas and electric lights,
a system Of water works and such other
improvements as it were possible to
construct in 20 snort q time.
Early in 1854 Roanoke was chartered
as city and The Hastings Court was
established. The city government was
materially strengthened in different
departments with a new charter. While
there was some depression in 1854, by
conservative management OF her enter.
prises, she fully held her own and
made some substantial progress. From
1885 on her career has BEEN one of con-
slant growth. Among the .dustries
that were soon completed were the twin
furnaces OF the Grocer Iron Company.
the American Bridge and Iron Works,
the Rolling Mills and other small in
dustries. street railway company
was organized and system of horse
cars put on the streets. A dummy line
was constructed 10 Vinton, two miles
distant, and afterwards to Salem, dis
lance OF seven miles.
In the course of events such needed
institutions as banks were supplied, and
have constantly grown until Roanoke
to-day boasts of admirable banking fa
cilities.
Not long after Roanoke began to en-
Joy the fruits of the completion OF the
Shenandoah Valley railroad, the con-
struction Of the Roanoke and Southern
from Winston, n. c., was projected. A
company was organized and after con.
siderable delay work was begun at Win
ctOD and fourteen rnilpa Of road frOD,
Winston to Walnut Cove, connec ting
with the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley
road, was put in operation in June, 1899
The work progressed slowly but trains
are now running from Roanoke to Win
ston. Shortly after the road was opened
the Norfolk and Western leased 1t for a
period of 900 years.
There are certain forces and agencies
that have been sufficiently prominent
in bringing about the events of the last
decade to demand special attention.
One OF these is the joint stock land COM
pany. The foster company was the
Roanoke Land and Improvement Com
pany, but many larger and more impor-
panies are business enterprises, their
sole object is not the buying of land at
a low price and selling il higher one.
A large part of the capital of them is
set apart for inducing new industries to
locate here, and in this way manyss. OF
the most important manufacturing eS-
Establishments have been ST cured.
The year 1890 was the great boom
year OF this entire section, and while
Roanoke's history has bee one Of con
slant and rapid growth. that year st>-..us
out most prominently in the extent OF
the operations in different lines.