The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-14
NEW MAGNATE IN ATLANTA.
MIR. HURTS RIVAL As \ FINANCIER
AND PROMOTER.

SIR. Atkinson, Formerly of Boston,
Nephew of T. jefferson CoIlidge,
BuiIdine Railways. Office Buildings
and Things in the Capital city.
win Harness the ChattahOOchee
and Make 1t Turn Wheels.
Atlanta. June l3.-From The develop
uents OF the past few weeks Atlanta Is
beginning to think that she has found
rival 10 Mi Joel Hurt the Consolidated
Street Railway maguate For some years
Mr.. Hurt has been a leading issue in To-
cal affairs. both financial and political.
Unless 1t IS all bluff, Mr.. H NJ. Al
Iinson. formerly of Boston, has thrown
down the gauntlet 10 MIR. Hurt, and will
from now on contest with him for the
leadership ia the fields wherein Mr. Hurt
has had pretty much his own way. Mr..
Hurt first gained his hold by inducing
large slice Of Boston capital to invest itself
in the street railways of Atlanta. He con-
soHdated the old horse and dummy lines
and equipped them with electricity. From
that time on he was great big man IN
the community, as newspaper readers
both at home and round about the state
probably know.
Mr.. Atkinson. who is a nephew of Thorn
as jefferson Coolidge, the great Boston
dnancier made his fret dash at Mr. Hurt
in the recent election for County Commits
sioner, ia which the latter was interest
ed in getting his man in so as TO be in
position 40 handle franchises on the cOun-
~ roads as might seem pleasing.
Mr.. Hurt was successful, but this sue
cess, it appears only served to make Mr.
Atkinson more active than ever in deVel-
oping ms plans. His first move was TO
take hold OF the ChattahOochee river cleo
tric lire the only thing on rails that MIR.
Hurt had not scOoped, and with this as
nucleus organize 5000 900 syndicate 10
build rival street railway system 10 COM
pete with the Consolidated.
Application has been made for franch-
lseS on almost every street IN town not
already occupied by rails, and the right
OF condemnation IS asked on these, SO
the new system can be made effective.
The new company also wants that part
OF the county which has not been already
awarded to the Consolidated, and a pretty
fight is opening up to carry these plans
through against the bitter opposition of
Mr.. Hurt ana his cohorts.
Mr. Atkinson Their followed up his street
railway scheme with plans for imme-
dale modern Office bulding-one that will
simply knock the lights OUT of the one
built by Mr. Hurt-the Equitable Another
million or so IS to be put into this build
ing, which Is 10 be located at the corner
of Broad and Marietta streets, the very
heart Of town. Back of these great plans
Mr.. Atkinson also has the Georgia Elec-
~
dent, this being tre concern that supplies
all the lights TO the city, and IL is also
understood that he and his associates will
climax their great schemes by harness.
ing the waters of the Chattahoochee river
TO supply all the power necessary 10 run
the factories of the town. They have
got the site for this. it is said. and are
almost ready to make q show down.
Engineers have examined the Chatta-
hoochee, and have reported that Its water
1871 can be so utilized for generating cleo
ing power 10 a minimum figure making IL
possible to supply all the people in the
city who use steam or any other kind of
power. AT half what il now costs them.
Mr.. Hurts friends seem to be agitated
lest he shall be eclipsed by the new de-
veloper. and are doing a lot Of talking
about fake" schemes and so forth, but
Mr. Atkinson who undoubtedly has some
very stiff financial hackers, declares that
he means TO carry out every item in his
plans, as specified, and in consequence
there is anything but dun time among
the local fnanc.ers and politicians, all of
whom are watching Developments with
bated breath so to speak