The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-05
ROANOKE'S
RECAPITULA ALTON,
UnmIstakable Signs Of Returning
Prosperity.
THE CONDITION -oF LABoR1NG
MEN A TRUE INDEX TO. THE
CITY's CoNDITIoN--wHAT RoA-
NoKE HAS DONE IN THE WAY
OF BUILDING-HER BANKING
INTERESTS AND THE YEARS
BUSINESS IN GhNERAL-THE
PAST YEAR A HARBINGER OF
BETTER TIMES.

1t has not already put in appearance in
the Magic City of the Southwest. Bust
ness is at least on the mend and our peo.
pie with their usual activity and business
instincts will doubtless get in the return
tide of prosperity and while it is coming
slowly. but all the more surely, will do
all in their power to keep pace wit h other
cities and towns of the State in this re.
spect
lt is noticeable fact that men
throughout the city are looking forward
TO the future and are becoming better
satisfied with the turn affairs have ia
ken The laboring element is perhaps in
better condition to-day than they have
been for years: The steady work of the
past year has given them opportunity
to make good living for their families,
beside they have Deen able to settle up in
large measure the debts incurred for
actual living expenses during the four
years of panic and dlene SIS which brought
many bitter memories to this class of cit
liens. Hundreds of families, who during
the past five years were compelled to give
up their homes on account of default in
payments to building and loan associu-
tions have learned to economic and as
consequence are now building up hand
some bank accounts with their surplus
cash. This condition of affairs among
this class restores confidence to IL large
degree rs they are better able to meet
their bills and feel more like providing
for the actual necessities of their fnrni
lies.
Reports from the railroad company,
the shops, the banks, the jobbers, the mer-
chants and manufacturers, are all to the
same effect. All are unanimous in the
belief that the worst is ..o7er, and while
they do not regard the hard times as
being ut an end. they all believe that bet
ter times are in store for us and that
hei eater things may be expected to I'M
prove Gradually more money is being
borrowed from the banks and in this way
business is being resumed or eS attended.
Individuals feel easier and those who
have any surplus cash are not amss to
loaning 1t for investment and everything
points toward general Improvement and
with few exceptions the general condi-
tions appear to be now gradually so shan
ing themselves as TO Justify the anIicipa
ton of continuing change for the bet
ter.
The city Of Roanoke experienced but n
few business failures in 1897 compared to
that of former years and the jobbers here
have probably regained all they lest in
1896. The sales of the trade have been
much in excess of those for the year be-
fore AMI collections are said be much bet
ter.
In railroad circles the year has been
very satisfactory and the Norfolk and
Western management look for increased
business all along their lines during the
present year.
Che health of the city has been good
and the past year was marked by no kind
of epidemic or ravisGing disease. The
death rate has been comparatively low
The fire department of the city has
been strengthened by the formation of an
additional company and the city has re-
Gently extended "a neat sum for better
equipments. The efficient volunteer ser
vice have by their vigilance saved the city
from suffering from any costly OF de-
structi"e fires during the past year, save
that Of the recent burning of the storage
room of the Virginia Brewing Company.
Il he work of the police court has di
unfinished materially which shows n
marked decrease in crime during the past
twelve months. The police force is re-
garden as efficient and vigilant.
'Th> building trade during the past
year has been unusually active and more
money vas spent during the past year
for the construction of buildings than for
the past four years combined. Many
handsome residences were built in vari-
Gus sections. but perhaps the business
section gained most in this respect.
Among the handsome business buildings
which have recently gone up mey be
mentioned that of DIR. j. d. Kirk which
will in few days be occupied by Hebron
linus 81 Brugh; the Rcsenbaum extern
sion; the Ma-steller building; the Nelson
& Myers building; the King and Gooch
building; the Andrews building east of
Henry street on Salem ay epue; the Brown
building east of the market, and above
all the handsome new general ONCE
building of the Norfolk and Western
hallway COMPANY. which was put up at
~ cost of over 100000.
The concensus of opinion ..among the
retail dealers of the city is that business
during 1897 was much better than the
year hefore. A few. but very few, claim
that they noticed no visible increase. but
all are looking forward to n better bust
ness this wear. Every blanch of trade
seems to have improved and the improve.
nent in some branches has been very
With such conditions it is only natural
that the new year should be entered
upon with hopefulness. All this is ex-
tremely gratifying as the general belief
that times will get better has tendency
to beget confidence and a belief in better
times will make times better.
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