Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-10-27

w. l., CALHOUN.
Atlanta, of which even a detailed state
ment fails to convey any adequate concep-
ton. Fifty years ago there were not more
than dozen families residing within the
circle of nine miles that forms the city lin
it's Today there is a population of 10000
souls living within that area. and it is the
boast of Atlantans that larger proportion
of the citizens are handicraftsmen than in
in any other city in the south.
Atlanta was not Atlanta in lS43. 1t was
Marthasville and was so called in honor of
the youngest daughter of Governor Wilson
Lumpkin. The name was changed four or
five years later when the town was reincor-
porated, having outgrown it's village char
ter.
From the outset Atlanta's record has
been one of progressive growth AT the be-
ginning Of the war she was busy city of
perhaps 10000 inhabitants. At the close of
the war she was "a scene of desolation and
ashes. But she never put on any sack
cloth nor did any wailing She just went
to work, and the splendid city of today.
with its imposing architectural piles of
brick and mortar, stone and iron, churches.
schools, public buildings, and above all,
its business edifces, is the monument to
her success.
The historian ana the historical student
of future ayes will find few problems more
perpleNing than the rapid growth of Amer
lean cities of the present day. The co-opera-
tive enterprise that has created simultane-
Dusty several scores of magnificent centers
of civilization cannot fail to remain a mat
ter of wonder. The history of Atlanta will
not be without its effect on the general
problem, for it will be remembered that
the city of today is practically the out
/ growth of but quarter of a century of I'M
interrupted peace, progression and pros
perity. 1t viii seem "a marvellous in its
way as the story of Chicago after the great
/ fre-more marvellous when it is recolected
that it is due 10 the recuperated energies of
vanquished people for whom nothing SEEM
/ ed left but hopelessness and oblivion. The
/ optmist OF the future will find in it the
text for many a sermon. The pessimist
must look elsewhere for his illustrations
/ Atlanta derives many advantages from
| her peculiar geographical situation at the
foot of the mountains in the heart of the
/ Piedmont region. 1t seems as if nature
had intended the site for a railroad center
and distributing point, and the result is
/ trade extending all over the southern L nit
ed States and indirectly all Ger the best
parts of the world Her trade in cotton
alone this year will amount to upward OF
/ 81, 900 600, and she has violated all southern
/ antibellum traditions by establishing mills
of her own 20 work up a considerable
amount of the staple. Other manufacture
ing industries have added their impetus TO
the general prosperity, and the chimneys of
her factories vie with the steeples of her
churches in marking the location of an en-
lightened community.
No doubt the general salubrity of her
a..
of Atlanta's citizens Healthy men have
healthful thoughts, and active brains are
potent With creative energies. The climate
of her neighborhood is delightful through
out the year 1t is never too cold in winter,
and seldom too hot in summer for comfort,
and the city is removed from the belt of
| those contagious diseases that sometimes
! devastate other cities of the south Her
Lealthfulnes. has attracted progressive and
energetic men from many other places, and
,ver cautious capital has not been afraid
to invest in her enterprises. The taxable
valuation of her property was increased
Euring the past year over 81 100000
Her educational and religious Institutions
are Atlanta's pride, as they a the pride of
every American city worthy of the name.
Twenty thousand pupils are enrolled in her
public schools, and every religious denOmi-
nation mas mousse OF worship IN the Guy,
and some Of them more than one. All of
these structures are intellectually credita-
bic, and many Of them of surprising beau
ty Since the reconstruction period in 1868,
when she became the state capital, some
hai dsome public buildings have been erect
ed, and she has an opera house of which she
may well be proud, while her newer bust
ness structures rival in altitude and APP
pointment those of many cities of larger
= population. Taken all in all, il may be
said that Atlanta has done her full share
in he creation of that new south of which
her lamented Grady was the apostle,