The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-19

INC mayor 10 DC Called UponS
operation-The National :dsIor CO.
Librarians to visis ting Association
-,o' Magic City.
The Commercial Az
of the most intez@' Nsoeiation held one
history last nyesting meetings in it's
question of light and discussed the
ratio its Ty'Aow Shall Roanoke Celeb
dent Pesp@nth Anniversary" Presi-
and uyChin called tho meeting to order
spok Produced OK. Mayor Dunston, WHO
lie as follows:
S"'The nucleus of the city of Roanoke
was Old Lick, officially known as Gains
borough, stage station on tho Lynch
burg and Salon turnpike.
"Gainsborough was established in,
1888, being inaugurated with e consider.
able boom in town lots, some of which
sold as high as $3.50 each; yet in 1870
the village only contained a mill, tav.
ern, stags station, two or three stores,
three churches and about fifteen private
residences, and even some OF these had
been moved away previous to 1889.
I'm November, 1882, the Virginia and
tennessee railroad was opened, and the
vicinity of the neig hborhood naturally
gravitated to the vicinity of the railroad
about three quarters of milo distant
from Old Lick, and now village started
around the depot, anu, in course OF time,
became known as big Lick The
origin of tho name Lick is from the
saline marshes. where wild animals
came to lick the salt, and all such places
throughout tho country became known
as lichs.
"In November. 1870, the vi GINA and
Tennessee railroad, by consolidation
with connecting lines, became the At
lantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad,
and after SOHO time, having become
financially embarrassed, was sold at
public sale in February, 1881, ana was
purchased by syndicate of Pniladel-
phia capitalists. who atterward renamed
the road tho Norfolk and Western.
ION February 2S 1874, tho town of
Big Lick was Incorporated, and in No.
vember, 1881, twenty nine years after
It's establishment, contained about GOO
inhabitants and was the center of CON
siderable trade, tho number OF build
lngs OF all kinds a. this date being 10.
I'm the summer of 1881, after the sur
vey of the Shenandoah Valley railroad
to junction with the Norfolk and West
ern railroad, Mr.. K,naball suggested
that tho name Of the town be changed
from Big Lick to Roanoke, this being
tho name of the county and derived
from the Il Indian namo of the valley,
Raw-re noke, tho meaning of which is
said to be shell money or precious
| money
On tho 23rd day of July, 1851, the
Roanoke Land and Improyemen5 Com
pany was organized and chartered by
Judge Blair. OF the circuit court of
Roanoke county, on the Bird day of Sep.
tember, the same year. On February 3,
lSS2, the act was passed. changing the
name of tho town from Big Lick to
Roanoke.
On juno IS, 1882 (the date being tho
9th anniversary of Waterloo, one of
the fifteen great battles of history, tho
Shenandoah Valley made junction
with the Norfolk and Western railroad
and on the following day the frsC through
train over the Shenandoah Valley rail
road ran from Hagerstown to Roanoke
ION January 81, 1884, an act was
! passed granting the town CT Roanoke
city privileges, it having at that date u
population of over 5, 900 persons and CO. :
tanned Ito buildings.
"While the charter changing the
name from Big Lick to Roanoke was
granted on February 8, 1882, yetamongst
tho earlier town authorities and the Of
| ficials of the Roanoke Land and I'm
prove ment Compa the junction of the
railroads on the 18th of June was con-
sidered the real Inauguration Of the
town. (This date is on record in the
first report Of the president OF tho Land
and Improvement Company Conse-
quently tho 18th OF June. of this year,
should he considered as tho decennial
anniversary Of Roanoke.
SIN my opinion the citizens of Roa-
noke should, in some manner, commem-
crate our decennial anniversary, as It
would not only tend to foster spirit of
patriotism amongst our citizens but
would advertise us and show to the
world what enterprise ard vim has done
n ton yea s, and will also act as an incen-
tive to others to join us to help advance
our city to greater strides in the future
than In the past.
There ara many ways by which we
could commemorate; probably a general
holiday ana gala day would be most
suitable, as giving to every one, rich
and poor alike, an opportunity to IN
gage in 1t and enjoy themselves. But
TO get tho voice Of our citizens on this
matter, beg to present the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the president of the
Commercial Association be appointed a
committee OF one and on behalf OF this
meeting request the mayor of the city
| to call citizens' meeting at an carly
date tn take into consideration the ad-
visibility OF commemorating our decen-
NAL anniversary, and IL advisable, by
what ways and means such measure
shall be conducted and carried out"
Hon. Henry S. Trout was the next
| Speaknr. lie said hn was horn ON tho