The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-20

cred, prosperous one for Roanoke.
There was no sudden furry in real
estate or any indication of boom, but
business moved along in the even tenor
OF its way, and when the curtain was
rung down on the old year and 1893 was
ushered in, the business men Of Roam
oke came to the conclusion that the
past year had been . good substantial
one.
Home building, which is the surest
sign Of city's advancement, was
largely carried on during the year. and
fully 500 private residences and many
stores and business houses were
erected.
The granting of new city charter,
which WAS done early in the year, did
much toward putting the affairs of the
city in business shape. The old charter
was defective in many ways and proved
a serious drawback to Roanoke's pros
perity. The old charter made no pro-
vision tor the assessing Of AUDITING prop
erty owners to pay for street improve
ments. The new charter provided for
this and under its provisions extensive
improvements, both streets and sewers,
were begun. This work has progressed
satisfactorily and the city now has
much better thoroughfares than in 1891,
and Is also much better off in the way of
sewers and drains. This latter work has
not yet been completed, the large drain
on Railroad avenue and several lateral
branches remaining to be built.
Another important epoch in the year
West End The Hardware plant, Du-
vail Engine Works, Bridgewater Car.
riage Works, Cushman Iron Company
and the rolling mill of the Roanoke
Iron Company all started up in the early
months Of the year. These industries,
OF course, brought many people to Roa-
noke, and in a short time houses were
springing up in the West End and soon
that section of the city became a busy
manufacturing suburb.
The building Of the handsome new
market and fire engine house in the
Third ward, which was completed early
in January, was a good thing for the
people in that section Of the city. One
or two new churches were also built in
this ward. The building of the new
jail and police station, which was au-
thorized in January, also filled a long
felt want.
In February the legislature, in re-
Spouse to an urgent request from the
lished circuit court for this city and
Bedford county and thus the overtaxed
docket in the Hastings Court was re-
lieved and business facilitated.
One of the greatest improvements
Roanoke has made for long time was
the substitution of the electric cars for
the old mule power rattle traps that
were formerly used. Negotiations were
in progress for long time before this
change was made, but they finally
reached completion and in June the
Roanoke Street Railway Company ran
their first electric car through the streets
of Roanoke. Since that time the system
has been gradually extended and Roa-
noke now has very complete car SER
vice.
From the very start the new cars
proved paying institution, and as the
lines were extended property in the
suburbs began to increase in value.
Now almost every part of the city is
traversed by the cars and the company
has further extensions in view.
The Development Company's prop.
erty in the West End which. before the
completion OF this line, seemed such a
large distance from the center of the
city, is now brought within easy
reach, while points in East Roanoke
can be listed very quickly.
On the 6rst OF April the business OF
Roanoke having grown to such an ex-
tent the postofflce was made q first
class one. The are only four such
offices in the State, namely, Richmond,
Norfolk, Lynchburg and Roanoke.
The establishment of the new court
and the other legal business consequent
upon Roanoke's growth made it neces.
sary to enlarge the court house, and in
June work on the addition commenced.
1t was completed in November, and
added much to the appearance of the
structure. Another handsome and
costly building that was completed
last fall was the Academy of Music.
This is undoubtedly one of the finest
play houses in the South. and stands a
monument to the enterprise and pluck
of Roanoke's business men.
The old established industries in
Roanoke also made gu bstan tisl i'm prove.
ments during 1892. The Norfolk and
Western more than doubled the capacity
OF Its freight station and also built three
handsome bridges over its tracks, the
abutments aud approaches being built
by the city. The Gas and Water Com
pany enlarged both their gas and vater
works and laid many miles Of new pipe.
The Roanoke Development Company
improved Its west end pre- perty and
built three handsome bridges across the
Roanoke river. A board Of trade has
been organized and 1. doing yeoman
service toward advertising the city and
bringing new industries hero. The
magnificent Terry building was also
completed during 1892.
OnJune IS Roanoke celebrated it's
decennial and showed the people of the
outside would what ten year Older
can do.
During the past twelve months Roam.