The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-24

The reporters for TIE TIMES were in
structed yesterday morning to ask
the leading business men of the city
the following question:
What can you suggest as the best
means, in your opinion, of increasing
Roanoke's prosperity during tho year
1892"
A number Of citizens representing
various lines of business and professions
were seen and the suggestions by them
reproduced below are varied and inter
esting and we'll worth reading and con-
sideration. Following are the answers
to tho question:
A. s. Asberry: practice economy,
get connection with the Chesapeake
and Ohio or Baltimore and Ohio and
build up tho wholesale trade"
'Fleming Christian: ~ think the
key to the whole thing is getting coz
nection with the Chesapeake and Ohio
or Baltimore and Ohio"
f.. G. Pechin: "put our streets and
sewers in proper order and give us a
good municipal government"
Arlington Gilpin: t'Low rents, good
streets, proper system of sewerage,
proper inducements for a greater num-
Der of industries to locate here, a first
class and extensive street car system,
we'll arranged both for tho interests of
tho public and the company, with cheap
fares, better pavements, sidewalks and
street crossings-on main streets the
crossing should not be less than three
stones abreast. Repeating of the ord-
nance restricting grocery stores in the
sale OF meats. A clean and more Suita-
bic market house, centrally located
Better gas at'cheaper rates, and good
electric light system.r
James ). Simmons: "We must learn
to appreciate that we have tho best To-
Gated town in the South, and each one
here should cndeavor to do as much for
Roanoke by his individual efforts as has
already been done by the Great Ruler
of all things"
r. A. Buckner: "a perfect city gov
ernment, put our streets i'll good condi.
ton, build up a proper sewerage system
and foster and stand by local indus
tries"
j. Allen Watts: Build up new indus
tries. In my opinion the Buena Vista
Land Company holds the key to the stu
alton. They have some splendid land
and they can add very much to the pros
perity OF the city
Mr.. n. i. Johnston, of the firm of
Brown & Johnston: LET every man paw
his debts; stop organizing corpora ions,
the subscribers to which cannot pay
their assessments; stop real estate men
from stretching the limits from Bote-
tourt to Franklin. Get the Shelf Hard
ware Plant and the two idle Rolling
Mills started, and everybody attend
closely to his own business and work
like Turk"
Mayor Evans: 81 think the best
thing that can be done to secure the
prosperity of Roanoke for 1892 is for
the business men of this city to .concen.
trate all their energy and capital in
legitimate business. Roanoke has or is
low learning the same lesson that every
booomed town has learned, and it is now
time for her to begin to profit by it.
capital will seethat the real estate boom
that made SO many reputedly rich and in
reality poor is no longer bonanza that
1T would be one great and substantial
step towards making this year one of
prosperity in Roanoke. Let Roanoke's
business men and capitalists invest
their money here in legitimate indus
tries that are for the upbui]ding of the
town as a whole and her prosperity will
be assured
Treasurer Thomas: 81 think that
wise and judicious advertisingof the re-
sources of Roanoke and her possibilities
as a business center will cause her to go
forward and eventually take her place
as one ,of the business emporiums of the
South. would advise that our bnsi.
ness mon Invest their money here. All
who wish to soc Roanoke go forward in
IF
both energy and capital in Roanoke in
dnstries, all working together for her
general upbuilding."
1t is evident to any man who takes
a trip out from Roanoke that it is a
common center. We will certainly have
more railroad facilities in short time.
These railroads are bound to come here
because this is and will continue to be
the chief center of activity. We have
passed through the recent money pres
sure With comparatively few failures,
showing to the outs ide world that There
is some foundation to our prosperity. !
was glad to see that the question of
making Roanoke a tobacco market and
manufacturing point is being agitated
If this can be done, and | am confident
1T can, 1T will be another industry added
and one of great Importance and profit
The whole thing in nut she'll is for
every citiz of Roanoke to make
known to the world her availability as
a commercial and manufacturing CEN
ter"
James S. Groves: "Use every effort to
get the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to
come to Roanoke. Endeavor to get the
establishment of more wholesale mer-
camille houses in the city. think that
there is no better opening in the South
for wholesale boot and shoe house
than in this city. There also should be