Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-23
WITH GREAT LEAPS
ATLANTA HAS CROWN
LIKE CITY Of MAGIC
Official Figures of the Census
Department Show Popula-
ton Has Made a Most Won
derfuI Gain

THE population of Atlanta, Ga, Is
shown to be 154.S3e. an increase of 6.96l,
or 1913 per cent, as compared with sS'Sh
in 1900" --.
Such is the laconic telegram that came
over the press wires to The Journal from
Washington, Saturday morning.
Over 70 per. cent increase! Sixty-hve
thousand people added to the population
of Atlanta in ten years! Il
Figures do not lie. The Atlanta spir-
it, is no more a spook to unsettle the
nerves of other southern cities. 1t is a
reality.
What do those dry figures not mean
IN civic pride, and effort. and good faith,
that Atlanta and her men have expended
so bountifully during the past ten years?
They spell volumes.
FEW EXPECTED 1T.
Few there were who could really make
themselves believe that the cold, offi-
cial figures of the United states census
would show Atlanta with population
of 10000 in 1910.
Many knew 1t a. a moral certainty.
Men who have spent their lives here and
have witnessed other census counts.
would never for moment have con-
coded to anyone that Atlanta's popula-
ton for 1910 would be less than $4,000.
And yet few could bring themselves to
believe 1t.
1t looked like too much OF an increase
to be logical.
True, the city had become Greater At
lanta, with the annexation of new ter
tory. True, thousands had come here
during the ten years gone by. But II
did not look possible.
When a city has 10000 people, It is not
difficult to add 10000 more in ten years,
and make 100 per cent increase.
But when city grows big, the per-
centage of growth gets smaller year by
year. city OF 10000 for instance, must
add 10000 i'll order to show 100 per cent
increase. 3 .-..>
BIG PERCENTAGE.
II is quite different when city grows
from S7.4O9 to 65.k28 Gas Atlanta did be-
tween 1880 and 190O making a 70 per
cent Increase, and when 1t grows from
S9,S1 to 1889 las Atlanta did between
1900 and 1910, though the increase In the
latter case is only 70 per cent In the
former case it took only $4,000 to make
70 per cent In the latter case 1t took
Sc, 600 to make 70 per cent.
But 154, $50!
That is something to be proud Of.
It will put Atlanta away up in the list
of American cities. . !
1t will put her not lower than third on
the list OF southern cities, New Orleans
and Louisville alone leading her.
1t will doubtless put her at the very
top of all inland cities in the United
States. g.
+ And that will be something to stand
by itself and prove fact that people
are anxious to know.
1t proves that there is substance be-
hind Atlanta-that the citizens are the
right kind of people, progressive, har-
monious, energetic; that there Is really
something here besides the spirit"
which all the world has credited to the
city.
.... WHAT 1T MEANS
Let's see what that 64,967 increase
(Which would have been 5000 with 80
more added in ten years means?
1t means, on the face of it, that an
average Of 1856 people we're added to the
city's population each year.
1t means that 5I new Inhabitants were
added every months every day, every
hours, l every hour and 20 minutes.
And. II the slang will be permitted,
that is growing some"
II Atlanta grows at the same rate dur
255. 1877 people in 1920.
And there are conservative Atlantians
who expect their city to do just that.
-.- REASONS FOR GROWTH
| The reasons for Atlanta's growth dur
ing the past 10 years are various. In
the minds of some men this fact or rea-
son is responsible Others prefer anoth-
er reason. " =
But always they come back to the basic
lanta DOES THINGS. At that point,
the city's growth finds it's source.
Moreover, the territory of the city is
over. twice as big now as 1t was In 1900.
The city limits contain Is "a square miles
now as against II square miles In 1900.
Some of the city's teasing friends may
point to this and, say Atlanta has taken
in, everybody in sight SO as to increase
her population. -rs.-
But If a city's limits were not extend
ed to keen track with her settlers. how
would any city ever grow unless it's in
habitants built one on top of the other?
All. Of the present territory and more
that has not been taken In, is an in
tegral part of Atlanta. The residents
in the Is "a miles that have been added
are all entitled to the city's protection
and conveniences, for they are united TO
II by unbroken blocks of residence
STREETS in which no man could point to
an imaginary line and say There ends
Atlanta and here beings the country"
3D.. TERRITORY ADDED.
In the past ten years Atlanta has
taken into her corporate limits ,Ansley
Park. Chastaintown, Brookwood, Battle
Hill. Westwood Park, Bonnie Brae,
Druid Hills, Edgewood, East Atlanta,
Redwood. South Atlanta and Oakland
City. 1t now covers 16,429 acres OF
ground.
Even with the limits as they now
Macon to vote for Hoke Smith regardless
of consequences. l thought this worth
sending in. Hoping that Mr.. Smith may
receive an overwhelming majority next
Tuesday. 80.
Yours very truly,
M w. NOELLs
raI11,,s Sop-in-Iau was the attorney for