Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-08-01
Notes BY Rail.

EDITOR HERALD: Space and dis
lance, travel and excitement, do not
deprive one from thinking OF home
and friends. They are first and last
in mind, if not in view.
In company with some friends, we
left the Queen City of the Shenan-
doah Valley on Monday night, the
IS inst, fer Roanoke. Va. We will
omit the layover at Shenandoah
Junction, which would completely
wreck Jobs patience. On the follow
ing morning we arrived at Roanoke,
which is 226 miles from Martinsburg.
We were tired, hungry, and sleepy,
although we all were in possession of
a good complexion received from the
smoke from the engine. Standing
upon the platform at the depot we no
ticed two gentlemen. surrounded by
ladies. One, from appearance. low
heavy-set man, we presumed was
Grover, of the White House. The
other we could not place until we
came in close proximity, when we
learned it was John B. Bowers and +.
G. Caskey, of our own city. We
were surprised at the number of la
dies around, and supposed the good
looks OF those two gentlemen had at
tracted the ladies to them.
Roanoke appears to be quite bust
ness place, claiming 20, 900 inhabi-
tants. The machine shops are inn
mense. All the work pertaining to
the manufacture OF engines and cars
of every description is done here.
We were informed 1000 men are em-
ployed at fair wages. In our visit
through the numerous departments.
where we were kindly conducted by
Messrs. G. H. HODGE and Geo. I.
Lemen, two of Martinsburg former
citizens, but for several years resi-
dents of Roanoke. They have plenty
of work and surplus Of material to
work with We also had the pleasure
of very extended trip around the
city with the gentlemen named above.
In our peregrinations around the city
they gave us many explanations and
points Of interest, in reference to the
rise and progress of the city. its dis
astrous boom, and numerous other
information on important subjects,
which for want of space we must
omit. Here we will add, if kind
treatment, sociability, and hospital
ity has tendency to increase the
population of a city, in 10 years Roa-
noke will double its present number
Of inhabitants. The silver spring, a
half mile from the city, which fur
nishes all the water used by the in
habitants and railroad shops, is
sparkling and clear as crystal, and
flows five million gallons Of water in
"a hours. 1t is beautiful to behold.
coming from the base Of a hill sur
rounded by shade, with elegant walks
and seats for the comfort and enjoy
ment of all.
The city was full of strangers most
~ all being railroad men from Viz
ginia, West Virginia. and Ohio.
brought together by union meeting
of conductors, engineers, fremen,
trainsmen and telegraphers, who oc-
cupied numerous secret order halls,
for the transaction of private bust
ness, and the academy Of music for
speechmaking, Notwithstanding the
extremely warm weather, the build
ing which was very large was crowd
ed to overflow at every meeting. The
principal speakers were Messrs. Ar
thur Sargent and Garretson. and
Mesdan,es Moore and Bissell. After
the transaction of the business per
tanning to the union meeting was en-
dedfan excursion was taken to Wey-
<E< cave, distance Of no miles north
..aN. - IL