Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-23
MesFEuTONS TALKS
CONDUCTED By
lTasWR.FELTON

The western and Atlantic Railroad
A member of the Woman's club of
Gainesville, Ga, has been appointed
to read a paper before the club at
a March meeting on the history of
this railroad. She, in Difference to
my age and experience, asked me for
| some data on this very interesting
subject. 1t occurs to me that other
persons in the state might be SINH
larly interested. We have a very in
telligent and thoughtful constituent
cy among Semi Weekly readers. +,
therefore, propose to give what I
understand to be facts, and the lady
(who may prepare a fuller paper)
can also read this article at the
proposed March meeting.
The Cherokee Indians remained in
what is known as Cherokee, Ga, d
long time after General Oglethorpe
made a landing and settlement at
Savannah. The removal of the In
dams became a lively topic before
congress, also the state legislature
in Georgia. There were two factions
among the Cherokees, influential
men, known as the Ross and Ridge
parties. Chief Ross opposed the re-
moval and violently opposed the
selling of these Cherokee Indian
lands to the United States govern
ment. Chief Ridge, with broader
vision, saw the inevitable, which was
coming. He thought it was wiser and
safer to get a fair price for the
lands and more peaceably to what
was known as Indian territory at
that time.
1t resulted in a bitter fractional
fight, and Ridge, with some others,
was assassinated before they could
cross the Georgia border, going west
L was born in June, 1885. The re-
moval of the Indians began in 1898.
They were assembled at what was
then called Ross landing, named for
Chief Ross, and now known as
Chattanooga, Tenn. The Indians
were attended by U. S. soldiers. 1t
has been estimated that 1000 OF
them died on the removal trip. They
have many descendants in the state
of Oklahoma.
Before the order for removal was
issued the governing authorities in
the Georgia legislature began to
agitate the question of building a
state railroad from Marthasville
now Atlanta, going northward to the
Tennessee line with terminal at
Chattanooga. The revenue of the
state was limited-but this enter
prise had to be backed by the states
| revenues or go by the board.
Hon. Alex H. Stephens made great
| speeches in Millidgeville, the capitol
in favor of a state appropriation.
1t had very able opponents but a
law was passed, appropriations made
and work begun a few years after
the Indians were removed from that
particular section of Georgia. II
| was slowly built. 1t was the first
internal improvement" scheme set
agoing in the south-perhaps in any
southern state.
AS we'll as I recollect there were
twenty miles from Marthasville tC
Marietta, equipped with one small
engine-one box car and one pas
senger coach-in the fall of 1912 OF
| 1843. They were hauled, as L was
told, from CSmak on the Georgia
railway. z saw the little engine max
ing CnlS D. we COunISu LWSuly
mules hitched to the engine. 1t was
a long journey and the roads were
very poor. The equipment halted in
front Of my childhood home.
walked through the passenger coach
filled with childish excitement. My
parents were invited by the civil en-
gineers to be guests in the excursion
of twenty miles and to spend the
vic ;11 Of hi 1N01
was to be given to excursionists.
was allowed to go along and
walked across the high trestles on
some loose planks holding to my
fathers hand. 1t was thrilling to
"a little country raised child, for
the trestles were very high and the
ravines were very deep. I sat
awhile in the ballroom after thehotel
banquet, but thu little girl was very
tired and worn with excitement.
slept some but the music downstairs
and the calls to dancers twittered in
my SAUNDERS.
After the railroad was extended
1873 miles, the distance from Mar
thasville to Chattanooga, it was a
considerable time before more than
two trains a day were increased in
nuHlDST. IlS IIdlIIS WSI0 ulduC uJ
with box cars to carry freight and a
passenger coach for travellers.
When my husbands family moved
to this section, in 1847, the rates
were high on trains, and but few
people Travelled that way because of
expense. When 1 came to Cherokee,
Ga, I was only eighteen years old,
but the railroad accommodations
were much improved. This was in
1850
The state of Georgia had a good
superintendent in DR.. John w. Lewis.
He made good money from the rail-
road profits. During the Civil war,
Major Rowland was superintendent
He made good money also.
The railroad was the main artery
of commerce and troop transporta-
ton during the Civil war. The Fed
erals came into Georgia, from the
west, and there are many sites mark
ed where battles and smaller en-
gagements took place.
1t was nearly wrecked at the close
and for two or three years it paid
less than nothing to the state.
A tWenty-year lease was author
lied in the early '7Os, and then the
states property began to soar as a
big money maker. During that lease
it paid the state $4,000 per month,
A new lease came on in process of
time and paid $4,000 per month
clear money. The last lease went
into effect a few weeks ago and will
turn into the strong box Of Georgia
$4,000 per month for fifty years.
1t is a very popular line, and be-
fore the world war begun the reve-
nues were very large also to the
lessees. The state made very good