The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-16
Mr.. Dickinson of New York to Take
Charge This Morning.

From the Atlanta Constitution, April IS
The majority interest in the Atlanta
Journal will tomorrow become the prop
erty of Messrs. H. NJ. Atkinson, Morris
Brandon and James r. Gray, and on
Tuesday they will issue their first paper.
This means the retirement of Hoke Smith
from the newspaper business.
George II. Dickinson. a New York news
paper man we'll known throughout the
country will take charge as general man
ager. He has been in Atlanta two weeks
under q contract which provided that IL
the deal should be made, he would take
charge of the entire plant.
After considerable negotiations on the
subject, a contract was entered into by
which Mr.. Atkinson and his associates
secured the right to purchase Mr. Smiths
stock, a a stated figure, any time up
to and including April 16 Mr.. Smith has
been notified that his stock will be bought
The formal transfer viii be made Mon
day.
Whether Mr.. Atkinson and his asso-
ciates have obtained the remainder OF the
stock held by minority shareholders does
not appear. Whether he has done so or
not does not figure in the transaction,
since the major portion of the stock IS
now controlled by him and his associates
While the negotiations for the Journal
were pending there were added to the Cos
sip already engendered, additional rumors
that indicated a consolidation of the street
railway interests in the city-Mr. Atkn-
son, in the talk, being made the buyer.
The denial of all this has been persist
ent, but out of the mass of mis-ssate-
ments and mysteries there has emerged
one truth-the purchase Of the majority
of the Journal stock by Messrs. Atkin-
son, Brandon and Gray.
The new owners will take charge on
Monday and issue their first paper on
Tuesday. 1t is definitely known that Mr.
Dickinson will take charge of the Jour
nal as the general manager, supervising
all departments. The editorial depart
ment will be conducted by an executive
committee of three or four of which body
Messrs. Atkinson, Brandon and Gray will
be the controlling influences.
II can be stated positively that there
will be no immediate changes in the
force, business or editorial; that is. I'M
less there are voluntary Withdrawals from
the paper. What may sevelop in a month
or a few months is matter for the flu
ture. The new general manager, Mr.
Dickinson. who is a thoroughly well
equipped newspaper man, is not likely TO
begin an acquaintance with a paper new
to him by disposing Of the men now en-
ployed.
H. NJ Atkinson, one Of the three new
owners of the Journal is probably the
best-known young business man in the
South He is at the head of, or connected
with. a tremendous variety Of enterprises.
He Is president of the Georgia Electric
Light Company, which holds the city's
contract; he is president Of the Southern
Banking and Trust Company; president
Of the Triton, Townsville and Gulf Rail-
road president of the Union Lumber Com
pany; president and treasurer Of the At
lanta Suburban Land Corporation; secre-
tary and treasurer of the Collins Park and
Belt Line; treasurer of the Georgia and
Carolina Planters Company: vice presi-
dent of the Third National Bank. In adj
dition to the foregoing, he has charge OF
The large real estate interests of r. JEFF
ferson Coolldse, Jr.. OF Boston. Among
them is the big fourteen-story building.
the Empire. which Is to be erected on
Broad, Marietta and Walton streets Mr.
Atkinson Is not only well known in the
business world but is. as are Messrs Gray
and Brandon popular socially.
Morris Brandon is "A member OF the firm
OF Brandon & Arkwrlght and has con
Quoted for that law partnership some OF
The largest litigation In the city. He has
served one term in the state Legislature.
whore hc represented Fulton county 20
The complete satisfaction or his constit-
uency. he is now n candidate for re-elec-
Hon a. the ur mary in May
James X. Cray, the thlld member Is a