The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02
MAY CHANGE NAME
OF ATLANTA STREET
People Get Excited Over The
Agitation
WAS ONCE A NHITECHAPEl
Dives Are Driven From Decatur and
Marietta Streets and Business
Men Would Now Change
Designations-council
in Deimna.
MAS ONCE A NHITECHAPEL

Il
The city of Atlanta is in a ferment over
the proposition to change the name Oh
the once famous Decatur street TO some
thing which will be less suggestive or an
ignoble past. Thee people of the city are
much divided in sentiment on the SUD
ject, the press is at odds, and merry
war is on between the advocates or
change and those opposed thereto.
BY way of explanation It may be said
that a portion of Decatur street was
few years back, the Whftechapel OF At
lanta About every house was saloon
or a resort of worse reputation, and 1t Is
said In the old days q mans life was not
worth much in the lower part OF that
thoroughfare after nightfan. The lowest
dives of the city were there, and in De-
catur street the black population OF the
city held their orgies.
With the coming of local option and the
abolition of the saloon as an INSTITUTION
in Atlanta Decatur street took on the
appearance of a ruined section OF the
CITY of Atlanta The streets from peing
a scene of busting activity at nignt
turned into deserted street.
In Heart of Business Section.
That part of 1t referred to lies IN the
heart of the business center OF Atlanta
and during the past summer the charac-
ter of the street has been completely
changed The old houses nave given
way to business places and the streel
has as completely changed In It's srchl-
tecture as II has in the character OF us
,nhah,tants business men and others,
who have taken offices and shops IN De-
catur street naturally want the name
changed. as K does not look wen on
letter heads and In advertising material.
Others not 40 interested, living outside
the former Stun, are fighting the change
and the city council finds itself In q serl-
Gus delimma, and II half arrsio 10 sce
for fear of dispiacing greater numper
than it will benefit by voting Tor lne
cbange FOLLOWING is what the Journal
SAYS under the caption, Let the Councn
Heed
.srhe proposal to disrupt both business
ana traditions by changing the name OF
Decatur street and Marietta street mas
bestirred a disapprova1 so widespread ana
earnest that council can have no furtner
doubt as to what the people wish.
Property Owners Object.
I'm Sundays Journal the property
owners along these historic tnoroush-
fares fled their brief Of protest II was
as logical as eloquent. 1t sets ior.n eno
fact that something like 5000 deeds are
recorded and that important business en-
ternrises are identified by these TWO
names Tt pointed out the confusion II
NOT serious complications, that would arse
from this sudden ana unreasonapio
shift Tt recounted the years or tnrliins
history that have left their imprint ana
atmosphere upon Decatur street ana
Marietta street. like moss upon tne pat
Aa11
Elements of a castle. II cameo al.en
t;on To the fact that many of Atlanta
,,,os+ favored pioneers first saw the light
of day through windows tnat iooheu upon
these thoroughfares.
sAnd this, 1t should be remembered. Is
the plea of property owners. the men
whose interests are most vitality and last
inolv concerned Their wish should
surely take precedence over all others;
certainly over the caprice tat hesan n',.,-
yesterday and which viii end tomorrow.
: ,-The fact Is this movement 10 cnahse
the name of Decatur and Manetta street
"a like puttine the cart before the morse.
,rha Jorrnal recognizes the need Of re-
habfJitating certain portions of Decatur
street. and It hereby pledges itsel1 10
continue It's activity In that directlon.
Rnt we should set about a serious work
IN a serious manner and not after the
custom of an ostrich which sticks It's
head in the sand and expects tnerepy 10
annihflate danger through blindness.
1--WE should not begin reforming tne
stockade by calling 1t buckingham paiace.
We would make Decatur street what 1t
deserves to be by plucking out whatever
dives may remain. by enforcing the ordi-
nance against vagrancy. by pushing the
new payement to completion. by keep
;ne sidewalks and buildings clean, by
seeing to 1t that from one end TO the
other the street is sanitary and respect
able.