The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-25
MOST ENCOURAGING WORDS. THESE.
Edmund G. Pechin Was Surprised at the
Oity's Favorable Condition.

received letters from valued friends
asking for the impressions formed by
me during my recent visit to Roanoke
and what l thought OF the outlook, and
not having the time to reply as fully to
each as desired, venture to answer all
by sending this communication to your
paper.
can honestly say that was surprised
to see the way in which Roanoke had
hung together during the troublous
times of the past year and her present
most creditable appearance. A resident
for almost three years. l saw it in its
hustle and boom and filth, lively over
grown village with nasty mud holes for
roads, with broken sidewalks, with
cellars filled with water after every
heavy rain, with sinking dirty street
cars teebly and spasmodically propelled
by attenuated and woe. begone mules,
with illy-lighted streets and weak
government.
After year and half's absence and
months of this when the whole country
was in the "Slough of Despond,"
found it a most attractive town; yea, a
city, we'll paved and clean streets,
macadamized roads; an admirable cleo
trio car system; large and handsome
additions to its business buildings and
dwellings,; agreatly improved sewerage;
an orderly people with less Of external
evidences of the influences Of depression
and panic than almost any place that
j have seen for the last eight months.
With furnaces everywhere out of blast,
two out Of its three running, and,
although necessarily with reduced
TO ces most Of it's industries in operation.
ORoanoke is not mushroon-it has
come to stay. l am perfectly willing to
admit that there have been great losses
that msny have been ruined; that many
more may be hanging by the eye-lids, and
may have to go, unless the times shortly
banks are hard up and that business is
dull, but with all these unfavorab BILE
symptoms and facts Roanoke has
bravely stood the pressure and looks
we'll, very we'll
When the reaction comes, as come it
must, Roanoke should be among the
first to feel it Her record in the pros
porous past, her position in the disas
trous present, her nerve and strength in
thus far weathering the storm, must
and will attract outside attention. When
the rebound comes there will be wads
and wads Of idle money for Investment;
at the outset more or less careful scru-
tiny which will insure to the early ben
eft of all places that have shown innate
strength and power to help themselves.
My advice is to keep stiff upper lip,
to hang together and pull together-not
every man for himself, but every man
for the whole. Talk up Roanoke and
talk up each other. Even if the banks
are hard up, let them act literally and
oC t,r,tt tat o1A IL ~
please, but when they fiud intelligence
hand.
Hang SURPRISES when they can lend q
saving hand The most intense sci
fishness is best subserved by preventing
business shocks. Let them be, not
mere money lenders, but hnanciers
Don't let anything or anybody go down
Talk hopefully-don't lynch any man
that croaks Roanoke has had enough OF
lynchings), but run him out of the
community.
1t is impossible to keep this country
down long. am neither a prophet, nor
the son Of a prophet, but think that
1894 is bound to see great improve
ment in general business conditions
determination OF the present Congress
by death would bring quick relief; but
unfortunately this happy result is hardly
probable, so Improvement may come
slowly, but it must come, even if some
what retarded by useless and hurtful
legislation.
Don't sit in your offices or hang around
the street corners sucking your fingers
or chewing gum, lnmenting your glo-
rious past. Seek u revive it. Have
love feasts of your / ard of trade twice
q nd or h,c
young, middled-aged or old-attend.
Don't talk OF the gloomy present, but of
the hopeful future; and tonic yourselves
with the knowledge Of many faint and
some positive indi atoms of reviving
business activity.
Get ready with the first CLEAN of sun
shine to advertise verywhere what
Roanoke has been; what she is, and
what she 10 bound to be If her children
Will blow your trumprts with no uncer-
tain sound. Above I'll things work
night and day, in season and out OF
season, to got into shape the building
of railroad over to the James river
and so connecting both with tho Chesa-
peake and Ohio and Baltimore and Ohio
roads.
This accomplished and Roanoke will
hump" herself. Now is the time to
ge; the preliminary work done; the
money will then come sooner and easier
than you expect
Unity of action will make Roanoke
great city.
The wise and prudent conquer difficulties
BY daring to attempt them
Sloth and folly shver and shrink
At the sight OF toll and danger
And make the imposebility they fear.
EDMUND c. PECHIN.
Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 90, 1894,