The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-31
CITY Of ROANOKE.
Experien ced One OF the Most Prosper
oIIs Years In Its History.

E,nerienced One OF the Most Prosper
Gus Years In its History.
ROANOKE. VA, Dec. 27.-Special.-
The year 1899 has been one OF markeu
nrosperity TO Roanoke and southwest Viz
GINA, indicating degree OF sohd au-
vancement and permanent growth sueh
as the city and section has not known
for many years. The admirable situation
OF the city in the midst OF one OF the
finest AGRICULTURAL sections Of the State
as well as one rich in minerals and tim
Der. along with It's splendid facilities Tor
trade and commerce, mark 1t as one OF
the most promising communities IN the
Commonwealth. The recent purchases
and consultations of the Carter Syndl-
cate have revived the iron-making III
terests OF this section, and the three
furnaces here. after a period OF com
plefe idleness for years 10 one OF them,
are now i'm full bast. averaging a dahy
output of 80 tons each OF pig iron dally.
The American Bridge Company has
been busy for the past twelve months
and still has untitled orders for work
which alone would keep the pant going
FAR into the coming year. About SIX
hundred men are gwen steady employ
nent by all these Industries, with no
prospect OF abatement for twelve months
to come.
The Roanoke Machine Works give en-
ployment TO 100 men and are now at
work on an order for 1000 one-hundred-
ton coal cars for the Norfolk and west
.rn Railway Company. whose latest quar-
terly and annual statements show large
increase OF earnings.
The headquarters OF the Norfolk ana
Western Railway Company are located
here In che Of the finest buildings or the
Kind in the state affording ampe room
and accommodations to the 800 or more
officials and employees. whose duties are
performed there. The monthly payroll
" these and of the employees Of Roanoke
Machine Works and railroad divisions
eenterlng here, amount TO $4,000 or
more besides the ten or fifteen thou
sand dollars paid out monthly to en-
o'oyes by the Bridge Works, iron FUR
oaces. mines and other industries OK TINS
CITY and vicinity
with the revival OF the iron ana steei
Industry has followed the reopenlng OF
the Rover and other iron mines IN TINS
locality, all OF which. though worked 70
the utmost, are Incapable OF supplying
the demand for ore at the several iur-
naces here and elsewhere.
The four flour mills Of this city and
vicinity are doing a splendid business
and the TWO tobacco factories hnd
ceady sale for all their products. The
same may be said of the three p anins
mills and the stave and barrel factory
which last is one of the latest ADDITIONS
10 the industries Of this CITY.
The Virginia Brewing Company. estab-
Hsbed ten years ago, and which manufac-
tlres beer Of a quality equal TO that Oh
the best in the land, have recently en-
lareed their plant by the ADDITION o.
complete bottilng establishment. loea'eo
In a new ana eommodious puiioins' anu
have erected a cold storage pant at
Pocahontas to meet the demands Oh inc"
steadily increasing business. The com
pany will also erect early IN loV a iai &C
cold-storage plant near the Market
sovare in this city, for which preparations
are already making. When completed II
will nave so00O cubic feet refrigerauns
canaci,v and will turn out ten tons or ice
daily If needed. -, -
TIRE movement 10 erect a cotton mill IN
the western Part of the city is meeting
with every encoura cement inc prouiot-
ers have Almost succeeded IN securing
RE 100000 subscriptions needed 70 mdAs
the mill movement success, ana an cdr
Iv Inauguration Of the project n lJoo Is
confidently expected Arrangements Tor
opening a pubic hospital cary Ia the
snring has been competed. The bulihins
was built for this purpose some years
ago at the cost of 5000 or more out
was NOT used as such. And when lifted
10 and furnished II VIII AFFORD accom-
modations for fifty patients with a full
corns Of medical attendants and trained
nurses. ,,.
Under the liberal policy or the City
Council great improvements nave oeeh
made In streets and sewers ana OF tne
public and school buildings nave Deeh
nut in thorough repair. ore OF the most
notable being the change IN the OLD opera
House which has been fitted up as an
armory for the Roanoke Light infantry
and as a pace for public meetings, al
cost of ST. 200. over 20 pubic ana pri-
vate buildings have been erected mere IN
the past twelve months. among mem ue-
inc the High school Melrose and West
End School buildings. The Iron Belt,
Canadav and Van Lear Buildings. Kirk
street Carriage Works. Jefferson Street
pantist church (colored), Woodside and
Relmout Missions and additions TO the
brewery and Gilmer street, not TO mention
the stores and residences which help TO
make the total
The twelve wholesale and commission
houses have done an immense business
mainly In the territory south and south
ues. a, the city. The stories and other
husip,s.cs have also prosrerrd. The de-
roslts in the banks have reached away
IN into the hundreds Of thousands. The
schools. public and private, have been
iberaIly patronised. and the churches
nave a larger membership than ever be-
fore known In the history of the ely.
On the whole, Roanoke. the Magic CITY OF