The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-15
The following editorial appeared in
the Baltimore Sun OF Tuesday, Julv 10.


The following editorial appeared in
the Baltimore Sun OF Tuesday, July ~:
The recent successful dcccnnal celebration at
Roanoke, Va, which was fully described In the
Sun. suggests all inquiry in rcgar, to the status
OF the preseI trade relations or Baltimore with
the "Magic City and Southwestern Virginia gen
orally. 10 be frank, 1t may be stated that they
are Iar from satisfactory, and are growing worse
constantly com There was time wncn this trade
was almost entirely tributary to Baltimore and
many OF our leading merchants OF other days
were largely Indebted Tor their business success
west, even far into Tennessee. The trade Is there
still, In largely increased volume. but it IL being
THIS are apparent to The most casual observer.
The Norfolk and Western and Shenandoah Val
10y railroads. over which the rich and varied pro-
ducts of Southwestern Virginia seek market,
are owned principally by capitalists in another
city. which IL fast becoming formidable com
pctitor for the products OF the Southwest; and az
necessary result, for the trade OF TINT section
This is natural, and there can he no reasonable
objection to this rivalry, provided 1t is conducted
ON nigh plane and there is proper regard paid
to diircrentials 10 distance. But NJ these cannot
always be counted on in the battle for trade, it
becomes vitality important that Baltimore should
be placed In such position to he able to main
tain her conceded geographical advantages aud
unsurpassed shipping facilities. How TIL. is to
be done IL matter Tor serious considerations but
II must be conceded that tho extension OF tho
Valley Railroad from Lexington TO Roanoke at
the earliest practical moment Is of supreme IN
portnncc Hero IL busting city which has
crown III ten years from population OF 100 to
s,.oUo. II y hive OF industry. with all the mod
crn rcquisitcs'fo great inland city, including
electric cars, electric lights, splendid water
supply, etc. It. industrial establishments arc
and, Judging by tho past, the claim OF its encr-
gemc business men that within the next ten
does not seem unreasonable.
There IL already number OF large wholesale
houses In Roanoke and buildings are gong up
Tor others. On account OF the freight rates which
these houses arc enabled to secure they are suc.
cessrnlly competing with Baltimore houses for
Baltimore aud Ohio Is extended With the ~rad
ing OF the road nearly completed between Lex
ington and Roanoke there should he prompt con
ference between the Baltimore and Ohio nuthori.
tics and tue business men OF Baltimore who are
go vitality interested, with the view OF commenc:
ing the work OF extension and pushing IL to com.
plction as speedily as possible. Already valuable
time has been lost and ut least valuable feeder
SACRIFICED We refer to the Roanoke and South
crh ROAD, which extends from Roanoke to Win.
ston, where II connects with the Yadkin Valley
and Cape Fear railroad, which reaches deep water
ut W Wilmington, e.
Baltimore could have easily secured the Ron
noke and Southern road but the importance of
the situation was not grasped, and the Norfolk
anu western, wide awake all the time, secured Il
long lcasc on the new road, AID II IL already do
ing splendid business. But whilst this oppor-
UNITY has been squandercd Othc. railroads from
Roanoke ar. seriously projected, and the Balti
moro and ohio should he there to take advantage
Oh in any iutnre extensions In the meantime the
country between Lexington and Roanoke and
the large local trade to be secured In the lutter
city would certainly make a handsome return on
the amount necessary to be expended IN making
the extension. or course the baltimore and
ohio cannot even AFFORD to stop at Koanoke rho
unsurpassed advantages or Southwest virginia
as place for money making pre fast becominp
apprct lated, and rs n consequence capital and
population arejlowing in.
Coal mining, although yet in Its infancy, has
assumed Immense proportions, AID the output
region in Mary land; the iron, lead and conner de-
pOsita are being more extensively worked than
ever before whilst there IL an increasing de-
mand from Rast and West for the hard Woods
which abound In immense quantities and of su-
berior quality all the WAY from Lynchburg to
n n.,oi Adocd TO these arc in fact the cattle
I thousands and u soil which yields In great
abundance all the cereals, tobacco, etc. Above
This IL no fancy picture. rs will be attested by
any one VIII has ever had the pleasure OF passing
through IT,, this beautiful region. That it is to be,
c. me In the near future he centre OF n tceming
population, vast industrial enterprises and gtent
business prosperity may be reasonably inferred
from what has been accomplished In the last Ten
years. Baltimore must put herself in petition to
share in the benefits OF this growth and prosper
,tyi 10 iail to co so Is to invite further loss of
trade and prestige III II section whose sympathies
ana natural trade relations are with us.
On The following day the Sun con-
tanned the following interviews with
some OF the leading citizens OF Baltimore
in regard to the completion of the Bal
timore and Ohio from Lexington TO Roa-
noke:
Comments were made by a number OF business
men yesterday upon the suggestion that the Val
icy railroad on virginia. which is part or the Bal.
timorc and Ohio system, no extended from I.oy-
ington to koanokc: in order That TIC RAPIDLY dc
vclopng trade of the ''Magic Citv'' az Southwest.
crn Virginia may be drawn to Baltimore The
completion OF The road was urged by all who cy.
pressed an opinion ON the subject. Here are some
OF the cOmmtnts
Mr.. Andrew j. Palmer of Wilson Palmer A
Co. wholesale sroccrs: Baltimore IL los inr Trade
III the vicinity ri Roanoke btcaIsc we have no
lhl"u%h rhiiroac, and IL l. desirable that the Val
ley railroad OF the Baltimore and Oh o system
should he extended from Lexington, Va. TO
RoaEoke. The absence OF through railroad facii-
itits To aud from Baltimore has caused most of
the trade pf Roanoke To he diverted To Norfolk
and Philadelphia, with which cities through con.
urctiohs arc made. Owing tC these facilities the
Philadelphia papcrs arrive In Roanoke three
hours before the Baltimore papers. There is n
have the Valley road extended, and /! completed
10 their city the road would be heartily wei
coined. Many residents of Roanoke have rcla-
tives or business connections in Baltimore. aud
shch persons would take a keen interest in facili-
taiins direct communicating railroad or tho
growth OF trade between the TWO points
Prior TO the Leasing. OF the Ronnokc and Souih
crn railroad To tho NOiiolE ana Western several
months ago, the Baltimore ano ohio. II il had
reached Roanoke. would have had an opportunity
10 get a through line 10 the Carolina. Failing In
this, there will yet he chances 10 tnp the south.
crn railroads which will centre at Uoanoke and
which Will control the trade or the country for
miles around that city. The dcvelo ,mcnt OF Roa.
nokc Is wonderful. Its natural resources are rich
ana its rapid progress in ma .iifactur ny indus
tries Is surprising. A gentleman living few
miles outside OF hOanOke told me that he pur-
chased large farm several years ago, and il his
succcss continues for another year or two he will
have made sufficient money to pay the entire
cost. drummer for n house In orr line of bust.
ness told me that Hoanose Ia the beet town in
Virginia for sales.
".s e expressed II: Where Lynchburg and
other places order rom twenty TO thirty ,isrrels
OF syrups or molasscs the Roanoke people order
by the carload We cannot get this road be.
cause we have no direct railroad route TO Roa.
noke. director OF the Baltimore and Ohio
s"id to me year or two ago, We will eventually
build TO Roanoke. The road bed Is partly graded
lIom Lexington ard we intend to compctc il