The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-21
ATlAETA AND ITS VICINITY.

The country around Atlanta Is now become Of historic
itorcst and the following description Of IL will clear up
many Ideas respecting the localities heretofore
unvsi.ed By our advancing armies
TopoaR4vuIcAr.
Pursuing the railroad south from tbs y,owsb the ias;
range Of hills are the Lost, Pine and Kenesaw noun
talns. Below this begins immense almost level sur
face often th'ckly covered with Forest and with sol Of
less fertility than further north fact some portions o
tho surface in the vicinity absolutely sterile
As enter this plain soon resch the Chatahoocbee
river. stream or considerable size acwing in south
westerly diroclion and possessing In military point o.
vew few of the requisites OF strong defensive position
Seven mles south OF the Chassahochec and q, the
mini or several railroads, is situated Atlanta.
DESCRIPTION ATLANTA.
This town, before the war, was important merely a
nourshng business and railroad centre II was the coun.
ty town Of Fulton county, Georgia, The Inhabitants or
tho surrounding plantations there for Justice and
for trade Large quantities or cotton and grain found
either market or shipment for the scapor,s. TITO
people we're active and industrious, and met with .
meritcd growth in wealth.
There arc three railroads which terminate nd Atlanta
the Georgia rood, connecting Atlanta with Augusta the
Macon and western road to Macon, and tue western
and Atlantic road 70 Chattanooga Tenn few mica
south or Atlanta branches tho Lagrange Railroad con-
meeting Atlanta with West Point the Chattn nooc hoo
river al the Alabama nc seventy two miles Distant by
means OF tbess railroads Atlanta m former times was
connected with an parts Of tho United statss and until
recently wns he greaiess railroad point the hands Of
the onemy.
The city was laid out IN 1916, and hiss now become
one OF the NEST populous Georgia In 1seo VS. popus
ton consisted of about twelve thousand resident inhab
tans and since the war has increased 10 almost double
that number tho furplus being made up of government
officials and employees The city contains several hotels
court house and some gno blocks Of buildings since
tho war IL has become extensive government depot
and manufacturing centre Here sro located the prlncl
pal shops OF tho railroads joining. here the
most extensive rolling mill IN the South, foupdres and
machine shops pistol factory chops for tho manufacture
Of miscellaneous government ticlcs aud two lsbcra
tories.
|. sns GOVERNMENT WORKS Az ATLANTA
OF those win give details Many OF tho works
are owned by private individuals, but for tho past two
years have boon exclusively engaged IN supplying the
wants Of the rebel government They In consequence
generally nouded under the head Of government works
One mile below The passenger depot, and tho ives,
side of the Georgia Raroad s situatsd Atlanta Roll
ing hil'. Thls 10 the moss extensive establishment Of
Tho klnd h the sonth n was bull. IN 1885, and owned
70 1868 by schoneid Markham. u wac AZ one tlms
purchased BY tho South Carolina Railroad Com
pany for ak hundred thousand dollars, exclusive o.
s negroes hylspeiDs 70 the MIL vheS sold foF an addh