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CHAPTER 12 1834 HE State of Georgia furnished the United States with a Secretary of State in 1834. John Forsyth, late Governor (1827-29), and long an ardent supporter of Andrew Jackson, was appointed to the top cabinet position by the President on June 27 and retained it through the succeeding administration of Martin Van Buren. During the same year the opponents of Jackson adopted the name Whig, in lieu of National Republicans.1 Preliminary organization of the Georgia Railroad was perfected in March, 1834, when a group met in the library of James Camak's home in Athens. At this meeting the charter was accepted and officers and directors elected. The host, Mr. Camak, was designated as President and twelve directors were named.2 In common with all large enterprises, complications arose. Everybody, it seemed, did not want a railroad. The town of Lexington, in Oglethorpe County, objected on account of the noise and that locomotives would frighten livestock. So it was stipulated that the line could not pass within four miles of the city limits.3 The Augusta Board of Trade stipulated that the road should terminate in Augusta and not go on to Savannah, or in any way compete with boat trade on the Savannah River.4 In October, 1834, the Georgia Railroad made a fortuitous contract when it secured the services of J. Edgar Thomson,5 then in the service of the Camden and Amboy Railroad,6 as Chief Engineer of the new enterprise. During the following year, 1835, Mr. Thomson secured the services of a young Pennsylvanian , Richard Peters, as his principal assistant.7 The Messrs. Thomson and Peters were to have important roles in the later development of Atlanta. More about them later. Actual construction of the Georgia Railroad began early in 1835.8 Work on the Central Railroad of Georgia, its original chartered line being from Savannah to Macon, began in November, 1836. It was completed to Macon October 13, 1843.9 Meanwhile, the year 1834 had marked a decided turning point in favor of a state-owned railroad. The legislature made a thorough study of the matter and on December 29 passed a resolution as follows: "Resolved, that the times require, and the resources of the state authorize a scheme of internal improvement from the seaboard of this state to the interior by railroad, on faith and credit of the state, and as a great state work."10 In support of this resolution the resources of the state were reviewed. The past measures of partial and local legislation on internal improvement had not met the needs. Private corporations had proven a disappointment because their treasuries were not of sufficient magnitude to develop so gigantic an enterprise as was needed. The movement continued to gain momentum spurring the legislature to action. Governor Lumpkin, the consistent advocate of a state railroad, became, in his message of 1834, more insistent than ever. He said: "After the most mature consideration, I have no hesitancy in reiterating the often expressed opinion that the only great work of internal improvement which would be entitled to the support of our whole population . . . would be T 126 ATLANTA AND ITS ENVIRONS a central railroad; commencing on our own seaboard . . . with a view of ultimately extending the line through the interior to the northwestern boundary "n It was not long before the Governor was to see his efforts bear fruit. The Inferior Court of De Kalb County was, at this time, composed of Justices John Dabbs, Thomas Ray, Edward Jones, Moses Murphey, and Lodowick Tuggle, all of whom were commissioned January 10, 1833.12 On Monday, January 13, 1834, the Court met and disposed of twelve civil cases. It was a field day for plaintiffs. Defendants secured not one verdict . The jury before whom all of these cases were tried was composed of: 1. John McCulloch 7. James H. Kirkpatrick 2. David Wilson 8. Gardner Cone 3. Joseph Trimble 9. Stephen Tilly 4. Thomas Durham 10. James Lowry 5. Daniel Johnson 11. Edwin W. Johnson 6. Lewis G. Walker 12. David McDow13 The jail, being in need of repairs, received attention during the year. On July 7 the county treasurer was ordered to pay Loveless & Jones $3.85 for 27/2 pounds of sheet iron with which to make repairs. A week later Thomas C. Bradberry was paid $4.93% f°r making the repairs and in September he was paid $8.00 for making steps to the jail.14 Two De...

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