The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-01

The year 1897 finds the Magic City of
Southwest Virginia still holding its own.
Along with every other community in
this great and glorious country it has
suffered severely during the late years of
general business depression, but despite
the fact that, owing to its rapid growth
ana speculation, the period of panic
has brought about IN immense shrinkagc
of value the municipality is still proudly
erect, confident in its own resources and
with IL population as great now as it
ever was in the years Of its greatest pres
perity. The past year upon the whole
J was one of progress, inaSmuch as every
vacant residence was reoccupied and
nearly all the stores which had been
closed i'll the days of greatest dullness
were reopened. There are not as many
banks here rs ut the beginning OF 1896,
but the three remaining rest on Il solid
foundation ana are fully capable of meet
ing the business needs of the present pop
ulation, which it is safe to say is not less
than 10000.
The public schools under the capable
management OF superintendent Rust
and the able corps of thirty eight teach-
ers have gained during the past months
in the number cf pupils rs we'll rs in the
efficiency of the curriculum. The total en-
is ,, 800, against 1000 ut the close of the
last session, and of the seven school build
ingS the city owns five, of which four are
brick and one frame.
The number of houses erected during
the year was about fifty and there are
now in course of erection II number OF
others, among them being the Office
building of the Norfolk and Western
Railway Company ut an estimated cost
~r -.
building for Which the United states
Government has appropriated 5000 is
about completed and is handsome ad-
dition to the many strong and stately
structures already erected. The fire de-
partment which is pnrtlT paid but largely
IL volunteer organization, Is one OF the
best in the State 1t numbers on its rolls
about 800 men, who are directed and con-
trolled by II chief and two assistants. The
fact that there has been only one serious
fire here (the Norfolk and Western Office
building) in the past year is largely due
To the promptitude aud efficiency OF the
fire department.. to which also the easy
premiums on risks of this character are
largely attributable. The city has also
been remarkably we'll governed in the
past year, while the work of the police
department in the arrest of criminals
and bringing them to justice has been of
Il very creditable character The police
force consists of twelve privates, a SER
geant and chief. which number is hard
Iy large enough for IL city of the size of
Roanoke; but the records of the police
court testify to the activity and efficiency
of the men composing the force.
The total assessed valuation of real cs.
tate and personal property in the city is
Tl2,4S5, 237, of which the former is &c.
COL 81 + and the Inttcr 81 $50 Gon The
bonded Indebtedness OF the city is $l92,
100. and amount levied for State, city
and school purposes is $lS5. 1881 The
rate of taxation for the State is 40 cents
for the city Sl.lO, ami for schools -
cents. The rea=s essment OF real estate
last year showed considerable shrink
age in such values but the loss in that
direction has been made up on others, so
that there hes been no material reduction