Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-14
In 1901 the First Car Was Sold in Atlanta
Now This City Is the Motor Car Headquarters
for the South and Does Business Running
High in the Millions.
By PERCY H. WHITING.

At the fag end Of the year 1900 c. A
Benjamin, representing the Locomobil,
Company of America, packed away
half dozen steam automobiles on a Sa
vannah steamship. paid $40 apiece fol
freight and sailed for Savannah.
A few days later he had the cars SCI
~ and running.
This so far as history records il
was the beginning OF the automobile
business in the South.
Twelve years ago today there was
probably not an automobile agent in
Dixie. Certainly there was not one
worthy Of the name.
Today the business done by the city
of Atlanta alone runs high in the mil
Hons In the South II runs up into the
hundreds Of millions
Do you figure that too high?
Well, there's one agency here in At
ianta-not a branch, mind, but an agen-
cy--that sells one make OF car only and
which has for its territory about half Of
the state of Georgia. Last year II did
a business that ran well over a third
Of a million. This year It has contract
ed for S450000 worth OF cars and will
sell half million dollars worth. And
this is one agency in one city for one
car. Imagine. now, the business of the
whole South!
Connerat First Agent
But, reverting again to the begin
ming VI this now tremendous business,
c. A. Benjamin, the first factory repre-
sentative Of an automobile company
who ever invaded the South for auto
mobile business, secured his first agent
in Savannah. This agent was r. V.
Connerat, now manager of the Buick
branch in Atlanta Mr.. Connerat It is
believed. was the first man in the
South who ever bought automobiles for
sale, and, moreover, that he was the
first who ever had building erected in
the South exclusively for the sale and
repair Of automobiles.
Though II Is not known for sure, It
is believed that w. J. DeRenne, Of Sa-
vannah, who was given a Stanley
steamer in the fall Of 1900, was the first
man in the South who owned an auto
mobile.
After Mr.. Benjamin had established
an agency in Savannah he invaded the
state, travelling by railroad, It may well
be believed, and visited Augusta and
Macon before he came to Atlanta. on
his arrival in the Gate City the bust
ness really opened up here.
Alexander and Ashe Pioneers.
The race for the honor OF being the
first automobile agent in Atlanta is
about a tie bteween H. NJ Ashe and
W. D. Alexander Mr.. Ashe was then
In the typewriter business and he fell
for the Establishments Of Mr. Alexan-
der and took on a side line of steam
Locomobiles. At about the same time
Mr.. Alexander then in the bicycle bust
ness, took the Atlanta agency for the
Mobile steam cars
These steam cars were fine old bug
gies. They were built TO sell for $3.50
and that was about all. After they
were sold II was a tough game. Not
iufrequently they ran-but not always.
Also they didn't run very long or very
fast And when one of them broke
down II was a Job for a consulting COM
mittee Of steam and mechanical engi-
neers, carriage builders and safe blow
ers,
The first purchaser Of an automobile
IN Atlanta is supposed to have been
Marion Johnson, who took over a Mo-