The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-21
Baltimore's Virginia Trade.

Tho record of Industrial development
in the United States, as shown by a
comparison of the census of 1880 with
that of 1890, stands unparalleled in the
history of the world. In population,
in manufactures and in industries OF all
kinds the increase during the decade
was phenomenal, and nowhere was in
more so than in Roanoke, and in South.
western Virginia generally.
In 1850 Big Lick, q struggling village
of about 400 inhabitants, marked the
spot where the city of Roanoke now
stands with q population OF 25 .OOO souls.
Great furnaces and factories have
sprung up where ten years ago there
were only fields and forests, and there
is every indication that the census OF
1900 will mako as marvellous a showing
for Roanoke as that OF $780,
Indeed. the city cannot fail to grow
and flourish, for it is situated in a
region rich in mineral and agricultural
wealth, within easy reach of the best
markets, and whose resources have as
yet only begun to be developed. The
southwes tern counties of Virginia a.e
underlaid with thick seams of the high
est grades of COAL enormous deposits of
iron ore abound in them,and throughout
the whole section many other minerals
OF less mportanCe are found, as we'll as
coal and iron.
The forests far excel those of the
great lumber States of Minnesot and
Wisconsin,; indeed, it is said that in five
counties Of Virginia there is to day
more standing timber than can DO
found in both the States mentioned.
Wherever the forests have been cleared
off tho land is admirably adapted to
stock raising and the growing of to-
bacco and the cereals.
The advantages of the section have
naturally attracted the attention OF the
railroads, and the Norfolk and Western,
which was first to occupy the field, has
become during recent years ono of the
strongest and most prosperous railways
in the United States.
Its success has now brought out 4
competitor in tho Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad Company, which is taking tho
preliminary steps toware building q
branch line to Roanoke from conyen.
lent point on it's main stem.
The whole southwestern section of
Virginia traded almost exclusively with
Baltimore. Tho Norfolk and Western
has already diverted most of this traffic
10 Philadelphia, and the proposed line
OF Inc chesapeake and Ohio, when com
p.etcd, Will take what remains to Rich.
mond and to Norfolk. Baltimore has
long enough stood passively by and al.
lowed its trado to be taken from it.
Roar oSe and Southwest Virginia arc
naturally tributary to this city, which
Is nearer than Philadelphia and vastly
more important than Richmond or Nor
folk.
Bat to retain its present business re-
lations with this section and TO regain
tho trade it has lost baltimore must
have better and more direct railroad
connection with Roanoke. If this can
be secured we can easily recover our
lost supremacy in Virginia, and happily
direct rail route from this city to
Roanoke can be completed with little
trouble and at small expense.
Tho Valley branch of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad has now lis southern
terminus at the village OF Lexington,
Va. From this point to Roanoke is
only some forty miles. Tho building
o. this short link would not be exoen.
sive, for considerable part Of tho line
Ia already graded. 1t would give the
baltimore and Ohio an excellent South
crn terminus, and would as once revive
the close trade rotations which formerly
existed between Baltimore and tl.e
southern and western counties OF Vir-
ginia.
The interests of Baltimore, OF Roam.
oke and tho Baltimore and Ohio rail
road demand that the building Of this
link shall not be deferred. Now is tho
time to undertake. the worl-