Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-11
FEAR Of NEGRO
INVASION STIRS
FOURTH WARD
Citizens Plan Demonstration in
Support Of Ashley Segre-
cation Ordinance.

Aroused by threatened invasion of
white residence districts by negroes,
big delegation of Fourth Ward citi-
zens is planning to attend a hearing
by the Police Committee of Council
Thursday of the Ashley ordinance
segregating the negroes in Atlanta.
Citizens Of the Fourth Ward espe-
cially are expected to be there, a re-
cent sale of property to a negro in
purely white section being the cause.
A cottage in Houston Street, between
North Jackson and North Boulevard,
has been sold to negroes, and it is
reported they are moving into the
house.
Councilman Ashley is pushing his
ordinance, and he is apprehensive as
TO the outcome unless something is
done to stem the tide When ques-
TONED, he said:
Il believe the ordinance will pass
Council and become a law, and l also
believe 1t is constitutional, as does
City Attorney James L. MaysOn. This
ordinance has worked admirably in
Richmond, Va, and in Baltimore, Md,
so why shouldn't it work in Atlanta?
81 have seen one of the prettiest
sections in Atlanta from North Jack
son Street east from EdgewoOd Ave-
nue. to Houston Street gradually taken
by negroes, and unless some effective
action is taken whole sections are
doomed.
Boulevard School, which, when
erected was in the very heart of
white section, is at present com
pletely surrounded by negroes, Nor
ris Brown College having been erect
ed on the adjoining lot.
Hilliard Was Best.
"Hnliard Street, from Irwin to
Highland Avenue, was one Of the best
streets in the Fourth Ward a few
years ago. To-day there is not
single white resident Of this street.
1t began when a negro a little above
his class bought a home on the cor
r7r Of billiard and Cain Streets. The
white neighbor next door moved out.
Tine house stood vacant for a time
aH eventually was sold to negroes,
Il went until the street was
ut them.
street, another section where
Of the residents owned
l,Ia homes, was the next to go.
.sy II property with a title not
nU. put on the market No
person would take the chance,
no did and to-day there is
white resident on this street
'u.r hose who were forced to va
e.t. d. account of the negroes was a
widow who owned her home and the
one adjoining.
johnson Avenue. running from
North Boulevard to Randolph Street,
was populated three years ago entire
ly by whites. A majority Of the resi-
dents owned their homes, and ii was
thought the negro would never modest
them Some distant owner sold to a
negro and the whites have been forced
out until not one remains.
Same Story of Many Streets,
This story can be repeated of a
hundred streets in this section. Prop
erty values have reduced until the
income to the city for taxes is not
more than half that ten years ago.
"A meeting of the white citizens Of
the Fourth Ward-an Indignation
meeting, if you would-probably will
be called at once; certainly If my
ordinance is not given a favorable
report by the Police Committee, and
] predict that unless something is
done to relieve the situation clash
between the races is inevitable.
1.-THE purchase of Norris Brown
College by the city would go far to
relieve the situation, and the invest
ment would be good one