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Section XI 1900-1909 A New Century Begins Auspiciously ONDAY, January 1, 1900, the first day of a new century—the only time Atlanta has witnessed such an event. Older southern cities saw the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries , but then Atlanta was four decades in the future. Now it was a prosperous and growing city of 89,872 souls, 60 percent white and 40 percent black. Fulton County, less than half a century old, as such, had a population of 117,363, representing 5.3 percent of the population of the State of Georgia.1 January 1, 1900, was a cold day in Atlanta. The highest temperature recorded was 26. Local lakes were frozen over and fine skating was had at Ponce de Leon and Grant Park. The first annual convention of the Southern Journalists' Association, an organization composed of young literateurs throughout the South, was held at the Kimball House. A great New Year's soiree was held at the Capital City Club. Robert Gotten Alston, of Atlanta, and Miss Caroline Lamar du Bignon, of Savannah, were married in Christ Church in the latter city. The Atlanta Gas Light Company advertised "A Reading Lamp for the Long Winter Nights," complete with Welsbach burner, for only $3.50. The Dan Packard Opera Company put on a rousing repertoire of comic opera at the Columbia (old De Give's) Theater on Marietta Street. William F. Parkhurst , Jr., a popular young man, entertained 15 young men with a delightful dinner party at his home on Richardson Street, after which the guests, Messrs. Erwin Dickey, Clarence Haverty, Arthur Howell, Harold Hirsch, Wayne Moore, McDonald Frazier, Frank Merrill, John Corrigan, Walter Daniel, Joe Lewis, Paul McDonald, Howard Matthews, Russell Compton, Arch Avery, and John Milam, completed the occasion with an informal merrymaking in Mr. Parkhurst's "den." The Young Men's Christian Association held an open house, and the local police declared war on race horse touts.2 The general council of Atlanta changed its complexion on New Year's Day when seven councilmen and two aldermen retired in favor of a like number of new city fathers. The new aldermen were Harvey Johnson, an insurance and mortgage man, and Marshall M. Welch, recording secretary, Home Mission Board, S.C.B. New councilmenwere: First Ward—Charles A. Barrett, locomotive engineer, W. & A. R. R. Second Ward—William C. Rawson, president, Gate City Coffin Company. Third Ward—Axton C. Minhinnett, retail grocer. Fourth Ward—William M. Terry, grocer and feed dealer. Fifth Ward—Absalom Q. Adams, foreman, W. &A. R. R. Sixth Ward—Henry W. Grady, with the Constitution, and son and namesake of the late noted journalist. Seventh Ward—Thomas D. Longino, physician.3 M CHAPTER 78 1900 388 ATLANTA AND ITS ENVIRONS Atlanta's city officers for the first year of the new century, in addition to Mayor Woodward, who continued in office, were: Nash R. Broyles, recorder; W. D. Greene, clerk; J. H. Goldsmith, comptroller; E. T. Payne, tax collector; G. D. Meador, J. H. Ewing and J. L. Harrison, assessors; J. J. Tolbert, marshal; T. J. Peeples, treasurer; F. A. Pittman, building inspector; R. M. Clayton, engineer; J. A. Anderson, attorney; J. T. Pendleton, assistant; T. J. Harper, electrician; H. H. Barefield, sexton; J. K. Hunter, warden; J. T. (Courtesy Atlanta Historical Society} The Aragon Hotel, southeast corner Peachtree and Ellis Streets, as it appeared about 1900. A leading hostelry of the period, it was built by George W. Collier in 1892. Torn down, 1930 to make room for present Collier building. Fence, left foreground, enclosed yard of Robert F. Maddox home Lowry, chief sanitary inspector; David G. Wylie, commissioner, public works; Dr. W. C. Jarnagin, president, board of health; W. H. Brotherton, W. H. Patterson, George E. Johnson, Amos Fox, J. W. English and W. O. Jones, police commissioners; George W. Harrison, president, board of water commissioners ; Jacob Haas, president, board of park commissioners; A. P. Thompson, J. S. Parks, J. Sid Holland, M. M. Welch, Harvey Johnson and W. R. Joyner, board of firemasters; Hoke Smith, president, board of education, and W. F. Slaton, superintendent, public schools.4 During the course of his annual address to council on December 31, 1899, Mayor Woodward cited many improvements recently made and strongly recommended further improvements. He mentioned the acquisition by the city of a free public library, the building of a public comfort building at Oakland Cemetery, and the establishment of a Bond Commission (T. B. Neal, chairman...

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