Atlanta And Its Builders, Vol. 1 - A Comprehensive History Of The Gate City Of The South. Thomas H. Martin
past few years, and presents some new features when contrasted with any other Southern cities of equal size and age. The manufacture of clothing in this city is a decided success, and has increased with an unparalleled rapidity for a Southern city. In 1854 five hands were employed in the manufacture of clothing; the number now thus employed exceeds seventy-five, the larger portion of whom are females. The clothing made here has been received with much favor by the public, and is believed to have attracted much attention to the wholesale trade of the city in that article. In this connection it may be stated that this is the great Southern depot for the sale of the most improved model of sewing machines, the use of which extensively has doubtless added greatly to the trade in the clothing department.
"The city was first brilliantly lighted with gas, manufactured from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee coal, on December 25, 1855.
"We have four prominent lines of railroads, all centering here.
"The city now contains thirteen Christian churches, and one more has been recently, projected.
"It is not believed that any other city in the country is blessed with greater or better facilities for procuring building materials, the supply of granite near at hand, of a quality peculiarly adapted to building purposes, is literally inexhaustible; bricks of good quality are made in and around the city on reasonable terms. Lumber of good quality is also obtained at reasonable prices; lime is produced in any desired quantity near at hand.
"The mechanical element prevails in our city, and the major part of them are enterprising, thrifty and prosperous men, who are rapidly rising in the public esteem.
"The health of the city is almost unprecedented, being entirely exempt from the usual summer and fall fevers, cholera, etc. No epidemic has ever prevailed here, and the bills of mortality show a state of health almost without a parallel."
From the directory from which the foregoing is quoted, we also glean the following facts concerning Atlanta up to 1859:
The churches in the city were: The First Baptist, at the corner of Walton and Wadley streets; the Second Baptist, at the corner of Mitchell and Washington streets; the Christian, on the south side of Decatur street, between Collins and Loyd streets; Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, at the corner of Houston and Peachtree streets; Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, on the south side of Mitchell street, between Washington and McDonough streets; Evans Chapel ( M. E. ) , on the north side of Nelson street and west of Mangum; Congregational Methodist, on the north side of Jones street, between Martin street and Connelly's alley; Protestant Methodist, corner Mitchell and Forsyth streets; African M. E. church, on an alley north of Gilmer street; Episcopal church, northeast corner of Hunter and Washington streets; First Presbyterian, south side of Marietta street, between Wadley and Spring streets; Central Presbyterian, on Washington street, opposite the city hall; Roman Catholic church, on the southeast corner of Hunter and Loyd streets.
The city was protected by three fire companies, well equipped for the time. They were: Atlanta Fire Company No. 1; Mechanics Fire Company No. 2; and Tallulah Fire Company No. 3.
There were five lodges of Masons, two lodges of Odd Fellows, and two temperance societies. N. L. Angier was agent for ten insurance companies; J. E. Butler for one, Alexander M. Wallace for four, and Samuel Smith for two.
The banks of the city were: The Bank of Fulton, the Atlanta Insurance and Banking Company, the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company Agency, the Bank of the State of Georgia Agency, and the Augusta Insurance and Banking Agency.
There were five hotels: The Atlanta, City Hotel, Planters' Hotel, Tennessee House and Washington Hall.
The local press was represented by seven newspapers, one of which was daily and weekly, one weekly and tri-weekly, one weekly and semi-weekly, two of them weekly and two monthly.
The following numbers were engaged in the various trades and professions: Attorneys, 29; clergymen, 10; architects and builders, 3; blacksmiths, 5; boarding houses, 14; boiler manufacturers, 1; boot and shoe dealers, 15; brick manufacturers, 10; clothing dealers, 11; carpenters and builders, 1; carriage manufacturers, 3; commission merchants, 14; cotton dealers, 7; dentists, 7; drugstores, 5; wholesale and retail dry goods dealers, 15; steam engine builders, 2; foundries, 2; planing mills, 1; flour manufacturers, 1; gents' furnishing goods, 7; grain dealers, 3; wholesale and retail grocers, 66; hardware stores, 6; leather and findings, 5; lottery offices, 2; physicians, 31; produce and provisions, 12; real estate agents, 2; rolling mills, 1; private schools, 5; slave dealers, 4; tailors, 4; watches and clocks, 4; wine dealers, 4; besides numerous other branches of business.
According to the federal census of 1860, the population of Fulton county was 14,427. Subtracting from this the 11,500 people that the state census of the previous year gave Atlanta, it will be seen that the county population was very sparse indeed. In presenting, therefore, the government statistics for Fulton county as to the various industries, it will be understood that they practically apply to Atlanta alone of that time, there having been no town of even a handful of inhabitants in the same county. The census reports show three establishments making boots and shoes, with an invested capital of $2,000, employing five hands, to whom were paid in wages $1,800. The raw material cost $1,700, and the value of the manufactured goods was $4,625. There was one carriage manufactory employing fifteen men, to whom $7,200 was paid, and employing a capital of $25,000. The cost of the raw material was $3,750, and the value of the finished product $14,000. Two flour mills, with a capital of $6,600, employing two hands, to whom was paid $600. The cost of the raw material was $4,000, and the value of the product, $6,500. One iron manufactory with a capital of $100,000, employing a hundred men, to whom was paid $36,000 annually. The material cost $62,500, and the product was worth $137,230. One leather manufactory with a capital of $5,000, employing six hands, to whom was paid $2,160. The material cost $1,000, and the product sold for $2,855. A sawmill represented an investment of $1,000 and employed five hands, with an annual wage roll of $840. The manufactured product represented $18,000, and the raw material, $7,500. Four manufactories of machinery, steam engines, etc., with an invested capital of $620,000, giving employment to 167 men, who received $55,000 in wages. The raw material cost $107,000, and the product was valued at $212,850. Two tin, copper and sheet iron ware manufactories, with a capital of $11,000, employing nineteen hands at an annual expense of $6,840. Value of raw material $11,084; finished product, $18,303. The entire number of establishments was fifteen; aggregate capital, $770,600; hands employed, 319; wages paid, $110,484; value of product, $414,366.
CHAPTER XV. WAR CLOUDS
At the beginning of 1860, the anti-federal sentiment in Atlanta was at the eruptive point. Hatred of the Abolitionists of the North was especially pronounced, and the first expression of public disapproval of this element came in the form of a proposition to boycott the wholesale merchants of New York, who were known to be anti-Southern in their feelings. The local newspapers published lists of native Georgians or natives of other Southern states who were engaged in the wholesale trade in New York or other large Northern cities, and called upon the businessmen of Atlanta to give them the preference when they ordered goods. On the 6th of January, 1860, the Intelligencer said:
"For many years past the Southern merchants have been accustomed to purchase a large portion of their goods in New York and other Northern markets. Charleston, Savannah, and other Southern cities have been almost altogether neglected in the great furore for Northern purchases. Late movements in reference to the slavery question have caused a healthy reaction among Southern merchants, and we hear of heavy complaints being made of the great falling off of Southern trade and patronage. This is good; the physic begins to work. We have long desired to see this corrective applied for the many grievances of which we have so long complained as having been inflicted upon us by Northern fanaticism. The true policy is to withhold the supplies which we have so long furnished Northern merchants, and there will soon come a torrent of opposition to Abolitionism from the enterprise and capital of the North, which will drive fanaticism from the whole country."
Subsequently there was an organized movement among certain of the more radical citizens of Atlanta to bring such pressure to bear upon the local merchants, through