The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-08-08
By JOHN T. BoIFEUILLET

Referring to the capital removal
the ever delightful Marietta Journa
inquiries: But when you get to Ma
con. where are you at?"
You are "at'' the ever expanding
progressive, prosperous and beautiful
city that put Marietta on the map
But for Macon's foresight and enter
prise Marietta would today be only 9
sweet little hamlet, of pretty vine
clad cottages, nesting under the shad
ow of Kennesaw, and hearing nc
barsher sound than the hum of the
honey bee among the flowers, anc
the tinkling of the COW bell in the
distant meadows.
But, instead, thanks to the wisdom
and energy and courage of Macon
Marietta is now hustling, bustling
gem of a municipality, with an inspir,
ing development of wealth and re-
sources.
Right here "at" Macon was con-
ceived the idea of the project of con-
structing the state road which runs
through Marietta, and which line was
for many years that city's only out
let to the outside world. Until the
road reached Marietta the place was
as motionless as an infant peacefully
slumbering on its mothers loving
breast. So quietly did Marietta sleep
the few inhabitants apprehensively
wondered-as does the fond mother
who watches her serenely sleeping
baby-if there was any life in the
little sleeper.
The county of Cobb was created in
1882, and four years later the plucky
city of Macon was devising plans for
running a railroad through the coun-
ty, so Marietta might live to be the
splendid daughter of Georgia that
she is, every artery and every pulse
of her being engaged in the work OF
growth and expansion.
The idea of building the first rail
road chartered dec. 10, 1889 in
Georgia, the Central, from Macon to
Savannah, was conceived in the brain
of a Macon man, as can be historically
demonstrated by abundant proof. In
that same year, 1888, charter was
granted by the Legislature for the
construction of the Monroe railroad
from Macon to Forsyth, which line
was later projected to Atlanta.
But for Macon's unerring foresight
viewed broader plans, her ambitious
genius beheld wider visions, and hel
dauntless spirit resolved on greater
achievements, than these two pro
jects. She commenced the discussion
of a plan which ultimately culmina
ted in the construction of the state
road that "made highway through
the fertile valleys and the rich hills
of upper Georgia (via Marietta,) anC
linked the cotton and rice belt of thu
seaboard and the gulf with the vas
grain fields of Tennessee and the
West"
In 1886, Macon and the occasion
met-''the, hour and the man haC
come" Macon's agitation of this out
let from Atlanta to the west resulted
in the holding of memorable con
vention in this city in November
1886, for the purpose of bringing the
matter to the attention of the legis
lature, which body convened at Mil
ledgeville on the day the convention
assembled.
The Macon convention was attend
ed by many of Georgia's most emf
nent and patriotic citizens. 1t wa
noted for the ability and high char
acter of its membership. The view
of the convention was to bring a
much outside pressure as possible
upon the general assembly to influ
ence it in committing the state to tn
construction of the road, to collec
information, and concentrate publ
opinion upon the enterprise.
Stirring speeches were made t
show the great utility of the road a
means of developing the resource
o fnorth Georgia, and as an cutie
to the trade and travel of the bound
less northwest. Resolutions favora
bic to the project were adopted, an
committee of prominent Georgian: