The age-herald., 1901-10-20
COL. WILLIAM \.
 HANDLEY'S TOWN Roanoke Among the Red Hills
 and Her Prospects SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE HandIey Manufacturing company's Cotton Mills Going Into Opera
 tion--A Boom, But Not of
 of Fictitious Order.
SIxTY-FIvE YEARS OF AGE
BY E. E. KERsH.

Roanoke, October S.-(Special) )--For thrift and enterprise there is not town in all Alabama to lead Roanoke-Colonel William A. Handley's town. It is called Colonel Hanoley's town for the reason that he is not only a very larger owner but because of his resultant efforts for It's upbuilding. It Is largely due to his efforts that the railroads have been ex- tended here, making certain its future, and then to further it's building this noble philanthropist has donated to home seekers scores of beautiful building lots, now adorned by as pretty cottage homes as are to be found in any Alabama town.
 Roanoke Is situated among the red hills of Randolph county. forty miles north of Opelika and fifty miles south of Anniston. The town was founded some sixty five years ago, the county and town deriving their name from the celebrated John Randolph of Roanoke, Va 1t is situated upon the dividing ridge between the Tal- lapoosa and Chattahoochee rivers. and is 1000 feet above sea level. The importance of Roanoke as a commercial town Is but recent. For half century 1t remained struggling village Some years ago the Central of Georgia extended its road to the town, and from that day It's growth has been continuous Today it Is the market for about 30,000 bales of cotton, is trade center for seven counties in Ala bama and Georgia, and has more thriv- ing enterprises than any town in East Alabama of equal population.
 A Manufacturing Company.
 .Rk Al i-A Manufacturing Company, owners and op- orators of cotton mill, which when com pleted will have 10000 spindles. one-half of the mill is now complete. and was put into operation some days ago. The mill is constructed after the most approved style, and the machinery is of latest pat ent. All of the stock of this company was subscribed locally, and every dollar Is paid in. The mill is turning out beautiful sample of yarns, misunderstanding from 20's to 3Vs. The mill owns a site of seventy-flve acres within the corporate limits of the town Forty acres of this property was donated by Colonel Hand- ley, and Is valued at s1O,0OO. The officers of the company are w. A. HandleY, president Major Scheussler, vice presi- dent; z. J. Wright, secretary treasurer; Wilmer Randle, superintendent. Other industries consist of an oil mill, guano factory. large ginnery and lumber mills.
 During the past twelve months Roanoke has been experiencing boom-not or the fictitious order but one of substantial progress Besides the building of the cot ton mill about one hundred pretty homes and possibly dozen commodious busl- ness houses have been erected. Others are in course of construction, including a magnificent church edifice which the Bap- tist denomination have undertaken. When completed this building will be the hand somest in East Alabama outside of An niston. 1t is being constructed at cost of $20,000.
 Recently the town has voted an issue of $35, ,O00 of bonds for the construction of water works and an electric light plant. These bonds, bearing per cent interest, were sold at par, and both plants will soon be in operation.
 Real Estate Is Active.
 Real estate here is active and brings fair values.
 But most deserving of Roanoke's ad- vantages is a magnificent free school, not surpassed in the State. In this as in ev- cry other enterprise of the town, Colonel Handley is found in the lead. In 1892 fire destroyed the school building, and with this public-spirited citizen in the lead the work of rebuilding was begun, a magnifi- cent brick structure of modern architec- ture being the result of the efforts and without a dollar of debt. Colonel Handley is president of the board of trustees and Prof. John T. Bowen is principal of the Roanoke Normal School There are up- wards of 275 pupils enrolled this year, re- quiring a corps of nine teachers. Fifty are boarding pupils from different coun- ties in Alabama and Georgia. No tuition is charged save small incidental fee. The profits of the Roanoke dispensary are applied for the maintenance of the school.
 The social and religious advantages of Roanoke are fine, the people being most hospitable and refined.
 Commercially speaking, the town Is far in advance of some of its neighbors. A sight not to be equaled Is the daily block ading of the public thoroughfares with wagons loaded with cotton. There are forty-two progressive mercantile estab-