The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-10-24

and reserved, but when he spoke it was
with Il dignity and force that was rarely
gainsaid. He had under him seven as
sistants, all active, energetic and ambitious
work which they had to perform. They
We're as hardy ard genial company as
were ever got together. My father was liv-
ing in Newton county at the time that
the road was being built, and when the
corps came near CIR home in their work,
they used to make it their headquarters.
They would work hard all day and then
at sundOwn, when work was over, they
would mount their horses and ride to my
fathers home and spend the night. Some
times dusl, would find them twenty miles
away; but they would ride this distance as
Quickly IS they could, and get in in tmo
TO have Il frolic before bedtime. l would
frequently invite young ladies' to spend the
night with me and they. my sisters and my
self would be on the outlook for the young
engineers Whom they came, some friic
would be SGT on foot and we would have 4
gay evening of it. But early next morning
they would be off again and ride back the
distance, sometimes twenty miles to the
camp. to begin work on time.
''There were no banks in the up country
then, and my father would go to Augusta
TO get the money 90 pay OFF tho hands. lie
had no place to deposit it, SO he would "l;C
it TO me and [ would put it in ny trunk.
So, you see, Il trunk was the first Georgia
railroad bank.
''Mr Thomson named the stations
the road as they came to them. He would
give it ont that the train would run up to
Il certain station at Il gwen date, and the
country people used to turn out TO see it.
Most of them had never seen Il train before,
and when it would come putting in. it was
a wonderful sight to see how astonishcd
they were.
The Naming of Atlanta.
But the most interesting thing about
naming the stations was the naming of AT
Iinta. | Will never forget the nIgnt WnCn
the name was first originated There has
been Il great deal SAID about how the city
hrsJ got It's name, but the true story is
this: One night we were all sitting Ill my
fathers home, talking about the road, Mr..
Thomson WaS enthusiastic about the site
OF the terminus of the road. lie USED to
say that it was destined to become Il great
city; that it WAS situated Ill strategic
point, which must make it in time Il great
railroad center. Well, that night we were
sitting around reading and talking, when
Mr.. Thompson said to my father, We will
have the road through to the terminus Ill q
what are you going to call ito I ASKED
him. Surely you are not going to call this
great city of yours Terminus
This started Il discussion, in which we
all Joined. Finally, Mr.. Thomson got
down the dictionary and he and my father
began to hunt Tor name. They, wanted
10 call 1t some name which would mean
the meeting of the waters, for it WAS hop
ed that the road would in time form II con
nection with some road to the Mississippi
river. They searched the Greek dictionary
for some word meaning this. but could not
find il. Then they began to cast about
for. Il fancy name and finally hit upon Alta
lanta or Alta. Finally Mr.. Thomson
bated whether it should be Atalanta, At
lanta or Alta. Finally Mr.. Thompson
turned tonne and said:
What shall We call it-Atlanta, Alta
lanta or Atla?'
Call it Atlanta l replied. 'Atalanta
is hard to pronounce, and Alta is too
snort for such Il magnificent city as you
predict it is going to be.
$50 the name was decided on that night.
''The next week, my fa ther came home
and told me that my choice had prevailed.
The name of the terminus had been pub
lished Atlanta in little paper called The
ATcrocosm, published at Madison, at that
time.
The way which Atlanta got its name has
often been dicussed. and many theories
have been advanced. but Miss Graves's
statement seems to settle the fact that it
was named by J. Edsar Thomson. the
chief engineer in the construction of the
Georgia road