Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-31
YEAR In TIE STATE.
RECORDS OF OTHER CITIES ron
PAST TWELVE MONTHS.
A MOST GRATIFYING SHOWlsG.
Roanoke, Norfolk, Newport News,
Petersburg, FrcdericksbErg, stnun-
ton, and Other PIaces-stcady Pro-
grcss and n bright Outlook.

| ROANOKE, December 30.--(Spscial.)-
! The year Just past Is perhaps. all things
! considered. the best IN the history OF
| Roanoke. The city has forged to the
front as a business and commercial CEN
tire so rapidly that our people are really
! surprised at the marvellous change. II IS
! not a boom by any means. as there is no
/ imitation OF values in any respect. Roa-
noke has gained more. perhaps in the past
year, than any Virginia city. This Is
due 70 the policy inaugurated by ex-Vice-
President j. M. Barr OF the Norfolk and
Western, and 50 ably enunciated By his
co-worker and successor, Superintendent
L. j.. Johnson.
During the past year the city has main
tanned large surplus to her credit. Al
public buildings have been remodelIed
and improved painted inside and out
Including the markets. engine-houses.
City Hall, etc The old opera-house has
been converted into an immense armory
hall. and neatly furnished. Twenty thou
sand dollars have been spent on street
Improvements. and $1,000 worth OF sewer
work Is contemplated; three new, large,
and comTodious school buildings were
erected during the past year. including
tie West End School, Mclrose School,
and TIE High School. where a CONNER
cial and business course is taught. The
schools have enrolled about 400 more
pupils this year than ever before. which
is an Indication that there IS considera-
bic increase in population.
Talks with real estate and rental agents
show that there are practically no va
cant houses In the city. Many working
lou sod In. n~da 10
secure suitable locations. It is claimed
that real estate is on the move
During the year two new wholesale
groceries were established, one wholesale
boot and shoe house, and one Wholesale
dry-goods and notion house, swelling the
list to about one dozen. all OF which re-
port a greatly increased business for the
year, and claim that the outlook for the
coming year Is exceedingly bright. The
city has four flour-mills. with a capacity
of from n to 200 barrels each per day.
The Carter Furnaces. formerly the
Grocer, have been overhauled, and the ca
pacity of each largely increased. Fur
mace No. went into blast a few days
ago. The West End furnace, after lying
idle for three years. was recently pur-
chased by c. II. Baird & Co, and now the
western skies are illumined by its fires,
One hundred and sixty men are en-
ployed. and early In the year the old
rolling-mill will be put into operation.
A stave and barrel factory, which en-
ployes from forty to sixty men constant
ly is one of the new enterprises of the
city. Three planing-mills are kept busy,
and orders cannot be promptly filed by
any, owing to the great rush for building
material. The Central Manufact ring
Company have made many Improvements
to their plant, and have contemplated
spending several thousand dollars more.
The Roanoke Machine Works employ l.
200 men, and are compelled to run many de-
partments four nights In the week. In
order TO keep their work up. They are
now constructing ZOO Of the largest coal
cars ever put out, each with capacity
OF 100000 pounds. The payroll is about
T65. 600 monthly. The monthly payroll OF
the general Offices Is s25,o00. while the
yard disburses about $4,000 monthly,
making total payroll by the Norfolk
and Western Of $4,000 each month.
The Virginia Brewing Company has
made considerable improvements in their
plant. They have erected $4,000 bot
Ting department, besides a branch cold
storage at Pocohontas, and have arranged
for work to begin at once on an immense
ccld-storage and ice factory, to he 10
Gated near the city market. Plans are
now ready for work to begin as soon as
the weather will permit.
1t is estimated that 800 new dwellings
were erected during the past year, and
several splendid business blocks were
built. Among the latter may be mention
ed the splendid Iron Belt building and
Campbell avenue. the Cannoday building.
and the Caldwel-Sites building, on JET
ferson street.
Three now churches have been built.
and others are contemplated. The color
cd Baptists have erected magnificent
brick church, at a cost OF $4,000.
The city has entered upon new era OF
prosperity. her people are contepted ard
happy, and the new year opens with ex-
ceedlngy bright prospects.
The new Board of Trade has secured
slCv. 600 cotton-mill which will shortly h
in operation. and a number Of other in
dustries are under consideration.