u/of^
/ttlai?ta, O^or^ia.
Ipublisbeb in IRine Iparts.
THE QRAVURE ILLUSTRATION COMPANY,
CHICAGO, ILL.
1903.
SCENE IN GRANT PARK.
MTLMNTH.
Located on the ridge that divides the watershed of the Atlantic Ocean from that of the
Gulf of Mexico, Atlanta, the gate city of the South, possesses natural and climatic advantages
of which few inland cities in America can boast. Every opportunity offered for beautifying the
city has been accepted until today Atlanta is known as one of the prettiest cities in the country.
Thirty nine years ago the site occupied by Atlanta was a mass of ruins and ashes, and
the last of Sherman's soldiers were leaving the desolate spot on their famous march to the sea.
With a population of 11,000 Atlanta, at that time, was the principal strategic point of advantage
held by the Southern army. From here the supplies were distributed to the surrounding coun¬
try. The bloody strife that was waged on these hills between two armies for the possession of
the town makes one of the reddest pages of history. Between the two forces Atlanta was left,
1
SCENE IN GRANT PARK.
RESIDENCE OF M. R. EMMONS,
SCENE IN GRANT PARK.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN R. DICKEY.
ENTRANCE TO WESTVIEW CEMETERY.
RESIDENCE OF DR. JOHN R. HOPKINS.
CONFEDERATE BREAST WORKS.—College Park.
RESIDENCE OF ALEXANDER W. SMITH.
dismantled, desolate and deserted. The smoke that arose from the ruins gave no prophecy of
what was to follow in the future and the ensuing events mark a marvelous epoch in Southern
history.
On the very hills where, thirty-nine years ago, lay the ruins of a small town, Atlanta,
a city covering twelve square miles of territory, with a population of 100,000 people and with a
reputation as the most progressive city of the South, today rears her head. By means of the
old fortifications and the stones that mark the falling place of some hero, only is it possible to
see any signs of the conflict of the past.
But these same events have resulted in making Atlanta, from an historical point of view,
one of the most interesting cities in the United States. In the very midst of the busiest part
of the city stands an old lamp post that was pierced through and through by a portion of a
bombshell. Direct^ behind this relic of war stands a handsome twelve-story building, the
latest addition to progressive enterprise.
Of particular historical interest is the old Leyden House on Peachtree street, which was
used at various times by officers of the Federal army. It is said that General Sherman stopped
at this house during his passage through Atlanta and that the building was used by General
Howard and other Federal officers.
General Sherman's headquarters were located in the present girls' High School building
on Mitchell street, at the corner of Washington. The Episcopal Cathedral was used by the
Federal troops during their occupancy of Atlanta, and a claim against the government for
damages sustained at the time is now being heard in the United States court.
The Leyden House is of the old Southern style of architecture and bears many scars
made by shells and bullets during the great battle. The property has recently been sold to a
company which will remove the historical landmark and build on its site a modern apartment
house. Already the old Leyden House is surrounded by modern buildings and it stands alone
as a monument of the past in the midst of twentieth century progress.
Every possible effort has been made by the Daughters of the Confederacy and historical
societies to preserve every place made important by history, and these efforts have met
with such success that it is possible to trace the maneuvers of each army and to view with
accuracy the scene of every important event of the campaign of Atlanta. Appropriate monu¬
ments mark the spots where Generals Walker and McPherson fell during the battle, within a
short distance of each other. The breastworks that surround the city have been preserved to
such an extent that they are distinctly visible and can be easily traced. 1 he battlefields of the
battle of Peachtree Creek, which was the fiercest of the Atlanta engagements, have been
marked. In this manner the historical importance of Atlanta has been clearly preserved in a
way to add new interest to the city.
PIEDMONT HOTEL.
RESIDENCE OF DR. J. M. CRAWFORD.
SCENE AT INMAN PARK.
SHERMAN'S HEADQUARTERS.
SCENE AT SOUTHERN FEMALE COLLEGE GROUNDS.—College Park.
SCENE AT INMAN PARK.
COURT HOUSE.
RESIDENCE OF E. T. BROWN.
RESIDENCE OF C. T. LADSON.
RESIDENCE OF MAYOR EVAN P. HOWEL.
The growth of Atlanta prior to its baptism of fire in 1864 was almost if not quite as rapid
and remarkable as the second growth, which has resulted in the city of today. The original
Marthasville was the terminus of the Georgia Railroad and was represented by a collection of
shanties occupied by the men who were engaged in constructing the railroad. The first impor¬
tance of the place was derived from the fact that a railroad ended at this particular spot; since
that day the growth of Atlanta has been closely allied with the development of the railroads
that traverse this section of the country. The chief importance of the town lies in its impor¬
tance as a railroad center. Its value as a strategic point was demonstrated during the civil war
and during the late Spanish-American war.
From the time the city was founded, during the latter part of the forties, until its destruc¬
tion in 1864, it had acquired a population of 11,000 people. At the close of the war less than 300
houses were left standing—the place was practically deserted. But this condition did not long
prevail. The energy that has become known as the "Atlanta spirit" arose to the occasion, with
the result that the Atlanta of today stands as a monument to the enterprise and ability of those
who were left homeless and penniless in the face of the dark days of reconstruction.
Few Southern cities recovered from the effects of the war with such great rapidity. The
attractions for capital and for health-seekers were such that a cosmopolitan population has
resulted and Atlanta presents an appearance entirely different from what one expects of a
Southern city. There is none of that leisure and easy-going aspect that one expects in a
Southern town. On the other hand, there is a surplus of energy and the street scenes are equal,
on a smaller scale, to those of New York.
During the latter part of 1846 the rough element of the town became so troublesome
that the better element recognized the necessity of securing a charter. The town was then
known as Marthasville, and when the legislature was petitioned for a charter the suggestion was
made, and heartily indorsed, to change the name to Atlanta. With the name "Atlanta" sub¬
stituted for Marthasville, the petition went to the legislature and was granted. Various people
have been given credit for the suggestion of the name and it has never been thoroughly estab¬
lished who was the originator of the idea. It is supposed that Atlanta was used as an abbre¬
viation of Atalantis.
A large portion of the population consisted of railroad men who were connected with the
operating departments and the building of the three railroads then entering the limits. This
element was obstreperous and law-breaking to such a degree as to become positively trouble¬
some and presented a serious problem. Under the charter the authorities were able to deal
with the law-breakers in a summary manner. With the securing of the charter Atlanta devel¬
oped from a small railroad station into a city, and this small act meant more for the future of
the city than those who were responsible for it ever dreamed.
mm
SCENE IN GRANT PARK.
RESIDENCE OF A. J. WEST.
RESIDENCE OF W. T. ASHFORD.
INTERIOR SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
RESIDENCE OF R. F. SHEDDON.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
CARNEGIE LIBRARY.
SCENE ON NORTH AVENUE.
RESIDENCE OF A. C. BRUCE.
When the charter was secured and the city government established there were many who
laughed at the idea of little Marthasville ever becoming anything more than a cross-roads
station. Some moved away and others sold their real estate, not daring the risk of a slump
which they believed to be inevitable. But there were many who had every faith in the future,
and these lived to see their foresight rewarded in a substantial manner. City blocks that are
now worth millions of dollars were sold for small sums per acre. In few Southern cities have
so many and such enormous fortunes been made in real estate. From the day the charter was
granted to the present day real estate properties have advanced in value until the holders can
name their own prices and find ready buyers.
History repeated itself after the war. At that time, as when the village clothed itself
with the authority and dignity of a city, there were those who saw ruin staring them in the
face and prophesied that Atlanta would remain an ash heap. But as in the former case there
were foresighted ones who saw a roseate future ahead and remained on the old hills to sink
or swim with the town they had built and seen destroyed. The Atlanta spirit came as a bright
gleam of hope out of a future that was darkened by the smoke from ruin and devastation.
Those whose foresight pierced the gloom profited by the timidity of the departing ones and
builded themselves a monument in the shape of a metropolis.
The aggressive manner in which Atlanta sought to become the capital of the state and the
political strife through which her citizens emerged in such a triumphant manner to accomplish
the desired end has marked her progress from the time the first shanty was erected as a tem¬
porary dwelling place for the surveyor who brought the first railroad into Terminus. Aiming
at great things and backing her claims with amazing courage, Atlanta has entered the field and
triumphed while her sister cities stood aghast at her very nerve. The record of these triumphs
is almost endless, but they have served to make Atlanta one of the best known cities in the
world and to win the admiration of historians.
The evolution of an ash heap into a city of 100,000 population is an interesting process,
especially when the transformation has occurred in less than forty years. As might be expected,
the evolution was accompanied by historical events, trials and triumphs, all of which go to make
up a chronicle of more than ordinary interest.
The capital of the state was brought to Atlanta when the city had scarcely removed the
traces of its former destruction and an impetus was added to its growth in 1877 when the peo¬
ple of the state voted to make it the permanent capital of the state. The railroads recognized
it as the gateway to a rich territory, and as a result it soon became the chief railroad center of
the South. The area dependent on it was a large one, and as a distributing point it soon took
the lead, which has been retained until the present day. The question has often been asked.
"What excuse did Atlanta have for its original existence ?" The question is a natural one,
4
I
_
.
since the city sits on a series of red clay hills and is nine miles distant from the nearest water¬
way, and this river is not navigable. The answer to this question has been very aptly given
by a leading citizen: ''Atlanta is the result of a combination of advantages, on a commanding
geographical location, turned to the best account by a spirit of transcendent energy, which sur¬
mounts all obstacles and builds even on disaster the fabric of success." The growth of this
spirit has been equal in its strength to the growth of the city and the "Atlanta spirit" has become
famous as a by-word in almost every section.
The elevation of 1,052 feet produces a climatic condition that is at once attractive to
health-seekers and those who enjoy an even temperature, free from extremes in heat or cold.
As a result, Atlanta has become a city of homes, the government census showing it to possess a
larger percentage of home owners than any other Southern city. Beautiful homes dot every
section of Atlanta, but the most elegant residences are to be seen on famous Peachtree street.
This asphalted and well kept boulevard stretches through the northern part of the city and on
into the country, where it becomes a magnificent chert driveway. For miles and miles the
street is lined with homes that are in themselves tributes to the architect's art and the builder's
science. Beautiful lawns, filled at all seasons with fragrant blooming flowers, add color and
picturesqueness to the scene. There is no crowding on Peachtree street. Every home is
on a spacious lot and the front lawn is, in almost every instance, large and well kept. These
homes sit back from the street and are reached by winding gravel driveways and cement walks.
The wealth of a city has been lavished upon the homes on Peachtree, and even those that
appear ordinary from the exterior are gorgeous in their interior decoration and complete in
their arrangement.
At the head of Peachtree street stands the Capital City Club, the principal club of the
city. Near it is the Governor's mansion, which is the scene of brilliant social functions. Beau¬
tiful shade trees arch over the street, and in midsummer the boulevard is almost tropical in its
appearance. Even beyond the city limits the street retains its beauty. There it is paved with
chert and is the fashionable driveway by which the Piedmont Driving Club, the principal
country club of the State, is reached. On and near this driveway some of the handsomest homes
in the South have been erected. 1 hey rival, in their elegance and beauty, the palatial homes
that were so characteristic of the old South. In many the old Southern style ot architecture
has been retained.
Every afternoon this fashionable boulevard presents an appearance similar to Fifth ave¬
nue. Handsome equipages, containing people dressed in the height of fashion, and drawn by
blooded animals, crowd the street, while the walks are filled with strollers and sightseeis.
In the center of the city Peachtree street becomes Whitehall street, and continues south
and west for many miles, becoming a beautiful country road. The street passes through West
5
lunn
STATE CAPITOL.
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE YVINSHIP.
INTERIOR OF THE SACRED HEART CHURCH.
RESIDENCE OE E. V. CARTER.
CENTURY BUILDING.
RESIDENCE OF A. J. ORME.
SCENE AT PIEDMONT PARK.
RESIDENCE OF J. M. STEPHENS.
End, East Point and College Park, three pretty suburbs. It is asphalted for two miles in the
city, then the paving is changed into chert. The street is one of the most popular drives about
Atlanta, and from Brookwood to Hapeville is almost twenty miles of smooth paving. Many
handsome residences have been erected on Whitehall street and on the country road continuation.
W hile these are not as numerous as those on Peachtree street, they are equally as handsome,
and contribute their share toward the beauty of the city.
Running parallel to Peachtree to the north and finally joining this fashionable thoroughfare
is West Peachtree street. During the past two years West Peachtree street has become one
of the most popular residence sections of the city. A greater number of handsome residences
have been erected there in a brief space of time than on any other street. It is separated from
Peachtree by only one block and is a part of the fashionable residence district of the city.
On the south side, Capitol avenue, Washington and Pryor streets are the principal residence
streets where magnificent homes have been erected. The three streets are almost parallel and
run in the same general direction. Both Capitol avenue and Washington street are paved with
asphalt, while the pavement used on Pryor street is vitrified brick. Pryor street is the popular
driveway by which the new federal prison is reached. Washington street leads to the handsome
Jewish orphans' home, which is one of the interesting features of the city. Atlanta is first of all
a city of homes and a birdseye view of the city reveals this fact in a surprising manner.
Another beautiful driveway is being added to those that are already in use. This new road
will stretch from Atlanta to Decatur, and will open up an entirely new section of the city. It is a
continuation of Ponce de Leon circle, one of the fashionable thoroughfares, and traverses a
beautiful section of country. The objective point of the road is Stone Mountain. It is likely
that a street car line will follow the road to this point.
Stone Mountain is one of the most remarkable natural attractions in the country, though
it is little known outside this immediate territory. It is a solid mass of stone rising out of the
earth to a height of several hundred feet. It is second in size to the rock of Gibraltar, and
has been studied by scientists. It is the culmination of a ridge of granite that extends through
that part of the State. Pavement for miles of streets has been taken from the mountain, but no
visible impression has been made upon it. The stone is used for building purposes and is sent
to all parts of the United States.
The road from the city to the waterworks station on the Chattahoochee river is a popular
drive. The waterworks grounds have been beautified until the park compares favorably to the
other public parks and is an attractive place during the summer months.
The parks of Atlanta, while not numerous, are beautiful and well kept and during the
summer months form one of the chief attractions. Principal among the parks is the city's
amusement place known as Grant Park. This property was presented to the city for park
purposes by L. P. Grant, one of the pioneer citizens. The gift has been well cared for and no
opportunity has been lost to enhance its beauty and add to its attractions. It is controlled by
a park commission under the direction of the city council, and receives a generous appropriation
each year. The park is a part of one of the battlefields of the civil war and in its confines is a
monument marking the spot where General McPherson fell. Only a short distance away is a
similar memorial marking the place where General Walker met his death. All through the
park the old fortifications are visible and any number of interesting relics have been unearthed.
"1 he paths and drives of the park pass through beautiful shade trees and shrubbery. The
trees have been preserved in such a manner as to give every portion of the resort ample shade.
The zoo is the gift of Z. V. Gress, a citizen of South Georgia, and was presented to the
children of Atlanta. It has been added to from time to time by the city and by gifts from
individuals, and is one of the most complete in the South. The park is particularly popular
during the summer months and the pretty lake in its center adds much to its attractiveness.
Piedmont Park, the scene of the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895,
retains all the picturesqueness that it possessed when the famous exposition was in full blast. Many
of the larger buildings are standing and are used every year for the fair of the Southern Interstate
Fair Association. In the big coliseum, Atlanta's annual horse show is held every year and the
half-mile track is used for a fall race meet. The park forms a part of the golf links of the
Piedmont Golf Club, the club house of the Piedmont Driving Club being just adjacent to the park.
Ponce de Leon Park is controlled by a private corporation and is a summer amusement
place, but is open to the public at all times. It contains a spring that is said to possess wonderful
curative powers, and the place was originally known as Ponce de Leon springs, obtaining its
name from the Spaniard who sought the spring of eternal youth.
Few cities of the same size are surrounded by more pretty suburbs. Interburban car lines
lead in almost every direction to suburbs that are in themselves small towns and are entirely
tributary to Atlanta. Of these, North Atlanta, which is traversed by Peachtree street, is the
most fashionable. Within its confines a large number of permanent and summer homes have
been erected. The homes here are of old Southern style architecture and suitable to the country
scenery which abounds.
Inman Park in the eastern section has grown in recent years from a group of country
residences into a thickly populated fashionable residence section. It is of sufficient distance to
be free from the noise and dust of the city, but is in easy reach by street car lines.
West End is within the corporate limits of the city, having been annexed several years
ago, but it is almost a city in itself. Perhaps the handsomest residence in West End is that of
Hon. Evan P. Howell, the present mayor of Atlanta. The house is separated from the street
7
v ••. ".!
SCENE FROM THE CENTURY BUILDING.
RESIDENCE OF B. M. BLOUNT.
SCENE IN GRANT PARK.
RESIDENCE OF W. F. DENNY.
EMPIRE BUILDING.
RESIDENCE OF CRAIG COFIELD.
INTERIOR CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
RESIDENCE OF R. M. ROSE.
RESIDENCE OF W. D. ELLIS.
.
by one of the most spacious lawns in the city. In West End also resides Sheriff John W. Nelms,
sheriff of Fulton county, whose stone residence is one of the most attractive in the city.
Decatur, six miles from Atlanta, in DeKalb county, is the site of the Agnes Scott Institute,
a college for young woman, established by the late George W. Scott, a distinguished citizen of
Atlanta.
At College Park is located the Cox Female College, an educational institution which has
brought the town of College Park into prominence throughout the South.
Chief among the public buildings of Atlanta is the state capitol, located on Capitol
Square. The big building is erected on an eminence and overlooks the entire city. From the
dome of the edifice a magnificent view of Atlanta and the surrounding country can be obtained
in every direction. The building is one of the few state capitols that was erected within the
sum appropriated for the purpose. The material used is granite and white limestone. The
interior finish is of Georgia marble. The building is a handsome one, and does credit to the
Empire State of the South. It was in the legislative hall of the Georgia capitol that President
William McKinley made the famous speech which it was declared did so much to cause a spirit
of absolute harmony to prevail between the two sections of the country.
The new federal prison, four miles from the city, is declared to be the finest of the prisons
yet erected by the United States Government. One wing of the structure has been completed
and is now occupied. The prison, when completed, will cost more than $3,000,000 and only
$1,000,000 has been expended upon it so far. It contains all the latest prison devices and
improvements.
By far the most beautiful public building, from an artistic point of view, is the new
Carnegie Library, erected by the Young Men's Library Association of Atlanta with a donation
made by Andrew Carnegie. The building is constructed of white marble, and the interior
decorations and finish are elaborate and gorgeous. The library is controlled by the city and is
free to the public. It has a wide circulation and is the most popular of the public institutions.
The Grand Opera House stands within a stone's throw of the Cainegie Library, upon the
highest point in the city. This is one of the handsomest theaters in the United States, and
stands fifth in the size of its stage. In its construction, beauty was combined with convenience
and comfort, and the combination resulted in a structure that has won admiration from builders
and architects. It is the fashionable theater of the section.
The new Fulton County Court House is among the recent additions to the public buildings.
It is a model of its kind and stands prominent among the public buildings.
The Fulton County Jail, known as "The Tower," by reason of the tower that rises above
it, is a handsome structure of granite. It is a model jail and possesses the appearance of an
old castle, its grim walls standing out in bold relief against the buildings that surround it.
5#f§
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PNMi
ST. PHILLIPS CATHEDRAL.
RESIDENCE OF PARK WOODWARD.
RESIDENCE OF THOMAS H. NORTHEN.
1LS #"
INTERIOR CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
RESIDENCE OF W. L. CRUMLEY.
RESIDENCE OF THOMAS PETERS.
NORTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. FOURTH NATIONAL BANK BUILDING.—In Course of Construction—From Drawing.
The United States Government has just made an appropriation for the erection of a
handsome Postoffice Building. The present building has been outgrown and will be replaced
by a structure of a size equal to Atlanta's importance. The plans have not yet been drawn,
but the structure will be modern in every detail.
The new Union Passenger Station which is in course of construction will be one of the
handsomest stations in the South. It will cost $ i ,600,000 when completed. Many old landmarks
have been removed to make way for the depot, and its location is such that it is accessible to
every railroad entering the city.
Of the smaller public buildings the Grady Hospital, named in honor of the late Henry
W. Grady, and the City Police Barracks are of importance. Both are city institutions.
Atlanta was built around the railroads, and as a result the tracks pass through the very heart
of the city. For many years the present passenger station was the most central point and all
distances were measured from it. With the growth and extension of the city the center has
changed. The dangerous grade crossings that were numerous have been reduced by the erection
of viaducts. A number of handsome steel structures now grace the streets and make passage
across the tracks free from the element of danger. The latest of these viaducts, which is at
Peters street, has just been completed. There is a handsome structure at Mitchell street from
which entrance to the new depot will be gained. Broad, Forsyth and Whitehall streets, in the
very heart of the business district, are bridged with steel structures.
In appearance Atlanta is very much like a large Northern city. Within its limits there
are more tall office buildings than in any other city of the South. The demands for office space
made necessary by the large railroad and insurance interests, caused the erection of skyscrapers
to be not only profitable but necessary. There are seven of these buildings ranging from ten
to fifteen stories in height, and any number from six to nine stories high. This does not include
the big hotel buildings.
The English-American Building, a ten-story office building, erected in 1896, is exactly the
shape of the flatiron building in New York, on a smaller scale. The building stands at the
junction of Peachtree, Broad and Poplar streets, and is on a triangle. When it was erected it
was thought by many that it could not be made sufficiently strong to withstand a wind storm,
but the science of building overcame all obstacles. While page after page has been written
about New York's flatiron building, it has occurred to few that the English-American building
is exactly the same shape, covering a smaller territory.
As a mule market Atlanta ranks third in the United States, and a visit to the mammoth
stables where the mules are marketed is of particular interest. Hundreds of carloads of mules
are brought here every year and shipped to all parts of the country. During the season the city
is crowded with buyers and dealers, and the auction sales extend over several weeks. The stables
9
SCENE ON THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER.
RESIDENCE OF W. A. HANCOCK.
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN D. MALSBY.
ATLANTA.—1867-1887-1902.
RESIDENCE OF HENRY L. COLLIER.
RESIDENCE OF HENRY LEWIS.
are built with a view to accommodating thousands of animals and at times they are overcrowded.
1 he scenes presented at the stables and Stock Yards are typically Southern and form an
interesting attraction for tourists.
A detachment of troops is stationed at the United States Reservation at all times.
The Government has beautified the Reservation in many ways, and it is one of the most
attractive spots in the state. The dress parades and band concerts attract visitors. The drive
to the Fort is a pretty one and is popular.
Few cities of Atlanta's size possess such a great mileage of street railway. The city is
a veritable network of tracks, and every point within a wide radius is reached by trolley car.
The city's good fortune in this respect is due largely to a fight between rival corporations which
extended over a period of years and finally ended in a consolidation. The properties represent
large values and the investment is one that has proved profitable.
In the business district and in the residence sections are church edifices that have been
erected with such rapidity as to make this feature a prominent one. Two of the largest churches
have been forced to remove from the city's center by reason of the progress that made their
locations undesirable. The new First Methodist Church, the congregation of which is oneof the
largest, richest and most fashionable in the South, is in the course of completion. Its removal from
the business district to the residence portion of Peachtree street has made possible the erection
of a handsome edifice. The structure is of granite and marble and its style of architecture is
attractive. The interior will be finished in a gorgeous manner.
The First Baptist Church, the leading church of that denomination, will soon begin the
erection of a new building on Peachtree street. Like the First Methodist Church, it has been
forced to seek a new home. The church property was condemned by the Government for
postoffice purposes. The present building was too small for its purposes and the necessity for
the erection of a new church was welcomed.
Among the newer churches are the St. Mark's Methodist, the North Avenue Presbyterian,
and the Sacred Heart, Catholic, all located on Peachtree street. Just off this fashionable
boulevard the Christian Scientists have erected a church which is a model of elegance and
beauty. Every suburb is well equipped with churches of all denominations and a remarkable
variety of artistic taste has been displayed.
Little attention seems to have been given to the erection of memorial monuments in the
city, and the principal monument is that erected by the city in honor of the late Henry W.
Grady, orator and philanthropist. Largely due to the efforts of Henry Grady is the spirit of
harmony which prevails between the two sections so widely separated by the civil war. He
gave his life to the work of reuniting the two sections and in spreading broadcast the views of
the South and her representative citizens. He was for the advancement of Atlanta above all
10
CHURCH AND COLLEGE OF THE MARIST FATHERS.
RESIDENCE OF J. J. MADDOX.
ENGLISH-AMERICAN BUILDING.
RESIDENCE OF R. F. SAMS.
RESIDENCE OF M. L. THROWER.
RESIDENCE OF T. A. LOVELACE.
else, and the spirit which he inculcated through the medium of the Atlanta Constitution and the
lecture platform are evidenced today by what is termed "The Atlanta Spirit."
At the junction of Peachtree and West Peachtree streets has been erected the Erskine
Memorial Fountain, a gift to the city. In the State Capital Building stands a monument to the
late Benjamin Hill, Vice-President of the Confederate States.
The spirit of progress that has marked Atlanta's career has not been so great as to cause
the memories of the past to be overlooked or those who contributed to its success and development
to be forgotten in the bustle and strenuosity that accompanies the making of a metropolis.
1 he two big cemeteries, in their beautiful appearance, are demonstrative of this statement.
Oakland, the city's own cemetery, has been beautified in such a manner as befits the last resting
place of loved ones, and large sums of money are spent upon it annually. The marble shafts
that rise from the graveyard and the flowers and trees that adorn it combine to make it one of
the most attractive cemeteries in the South. One section of the place is reserved for the men
who fell defending Atlanta during the civil war and for those who are rapidly falling out of the
ranks. A marble tablet with appropriate inscriptions marks the resting place of each war veteran.
On Decoration Day the city pays tribute to these heroes, and their section of the cemetery is
covered with flowers and flags and an honorary salute is fired over their graves.
West View Cemetery in the western portion of the city is larger and newer. It is located
on a series of low rolling hills and gives excellent opportunity for the landscape gardeners'work.
In this cemetery is located the vault in which rests the body of the late Henry W. Grady. The
family vaults of many pioneer and distinguished Southern families have also been built here.
Hollywood Cemetery, located near the Chattahoochee river, is a country cemetery, but
has been beautified to such an extent that it is well worth visiting.
The National Cemetery, in which the soldiers of the United States Army are buried, is
located eighteen miles from Atlanta, at Marietta, Ga.
The city is governed by Council, Board of Aldermen and Mayor. In the conduct of
the various departments the board system is used. For each department a board is elected by
the General Council. In some instances the Council elects the chiefs of departments and in others
the Board has control of this matter. Under this system politics naturally enter into the matter,
but there has never been any corruption in the City Government, and Atlanta is recognized as a
model among clean cities. Many distinguished men have occupied the office of Mayor and the
leading citizens have, without compensation or the hope of reward, served upon the boards of
the various departments.
One of the greatest prides of the city is its health. This is watched closely through all
seasons of the year, and the Health Department is given large sums of money annually with
which to preserve health. The sewer system has been extended and perfected from time to
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time, and a problem has been presented owing to the great distance of the trunk sewers from
any waterway; but the greater difficulties have been surmounted and the drainage of the
community is well nigh perfect. The Health Department has charge of cleaning the streets, and
this work is done with care. The streets present a pretty appearance,and sweepers are continually
at \\ ork upon them. In this respect Atlanta ranks high among the municipalities.
Perhaps the best known of the departments is the Fire Department, of which W. R.
Joyner is chief. Chief Joyner is known throughout the country as one of the most successful
fire fighters in the world. He is at present President of the National Association of Fire Chiefs
and is the leading authority on fire-fighting methods. The Fire Department has kept pace with
the growth of the city and reached its present high efficiency from a volunteer department.
Chief Joyner is in absolute control of the department, though there is a board of fire masters.
His is the one department that is absolutely free from politics. To this fact he attributes, to a
large degree, his success in coping with the fire fiend. His men are selected purely upon their
merits and abilities as fire fighters.
The city owns its Water Works and the water supply is procured from the Chattahoochee
river, nine miles distant. The river is a muddy stream, but by a process of filtration the water
is made clear and pure and is used freely for drinking purposes. The system has been duplicated
and all possibility of an accident that might cut off the water supply has been obviated. The
department is in charge of General Manager Park Woodward, under the direction of a Board
of Water Commissioners.
The Police Department is governed by a Board of Police Commissioners that makes its
own rules and controls the department, electing the chief and the men. John W. Ball is the
present chief and has brought the department to a high state of efficiency. He has been given
more freedom in the conduct of the department than any former chief. The Police Board is a
political body, but at the present time is placing the affairs of the department more in the hands of
its chief. The Police Headquarters and City Jail is one of the prettiest of the public buildings.
The City Schools are under the direction of a Board of Education, elective by Council,
and the Superintendent is appointed by the Board. Major W. F. Slaton, a well known educator,
has retained this position for a long period of years. Many people have been attracted to
Atlanta by reason of the efficiency of the public schools and the excellent facilities offered.
There are two high schools and a large number of grammar schools, of eight grades each. The
schools have not quite kept pace with the growth of the city in the matter of numbers, and every
September they are overcrowded. The school buildings are handsome and the curriculum is
of a high order.
The Georgia School of Technology, a state institution, is located on the outskirts of the
city. This University is one of the best known technical schools in the country, and its rolls
contain the names of boys from every Southern state. The building, dormitories and shops
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SOUTHERN FEMALE COLLEGE.—College Park.
RESIDENCE OE JOHN R. WILKINSON.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN C. WILSON.—College Park.
ATLANTA BAPTIST COLLEGE.
RESIDENCE OF THOMAS S. LEWIS.
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES R. WINSHIP.
cover a wide area of ground. The school attracted the attention of the late Aaron French,
of Philadelphia, who was liberal in his donations. The institution is in charge of Captain Lyman
Hall, a graduate of Annapolis.
There are a number of negro educational institutions on the outskirts of the city. These
have been erected by means of donations and funds raised in Northern cities and supported by
endowments.
On the Chattahoochee river there is, in course of construction, an immense dam which
will give power to an electric power company. The work is a remarkable piece of engineering,
and the cost will be more than a million dollars. Power from this plant will be brought into
the city and the greater portion of it has been contracted for by the street railway company.
Near this dam another company is erecting a power plant and will use the electricity for a
railroad between Atlanta and Gainesville.
A great amount of electric power is used by small manufacturers. The city is filled with
small industries of this kind and in most instances the motive power is electricity. The electric
power is controlled by the street railway company, and that organization has contracted for the
power to be produced by one of the new plants.
The success of small industries has been largely due to the unusual railroad facilities
offered them. Atlanta is the gateway to a large and prosperous territory and is the distinct
railroad center of the South. Railroad offices are in all the large buildings, and the freight and
passenger departments conduct a great portion of their executive business from this point.
A number of cotton mills are located in and about Atlanta, giving employment to a
large force of laborers. During the busy seasons these mills work day and night, and add much
to the importance of the city as a manufacturing town.
The railroads are making important improvements for the handling of freight in this
territory. Three roads are making extensive additions to their freight-yard facilities. Progress
has driven the freight yards to the outskirts and the increase of business has made the enlarge¬
ment of the yards necessary. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent in this work.
Atlanta's credit as a municipality is equalled by that of few other cities. The authorities
have been able to borrow sums of money to meet unexpected demands, and Atlanta bonds are
among the municipal bonds that the Government accepts from National Banks, in lieu of
Government bonds. Atlanta City Bonds are eagerly sought after and are always quoted above par.
Atlanta's banking institutions are among the most substantial in the South. There are
four National Banks and a number of large private institutions. The clearings of the banks
show a large increase each year. Through these banking institutions is obtained a large part of
the money needed to move the cotton crop in Georgia every fall. The banks are located in
the large office buildings, and are furnished in a manner befitting their importance in the
commercial world.
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