The town of Atlanta had designated its first commissioners in 1845. The 5-man governing body was comprised of stalwart citizens, none of whom had any previous experience in government affairs. They did their best to bring order to the young railroad town but, by all accounts, their efforts fell on deaf ears. There was little interest on the part of the community for paying taxes, or for that matter, following the rule of law.
The main source of income for Atlantans was provided by the railroad companies. Building Atlanta’s railroad lines was a labor-intensive endeavor carried out by men, many of whom were Irish immigrants separated from their families. It’s not surprising that where there were hard-working men with money, you would find drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Atlanta certainly fit that description. However, as word began to spread about the opportunities to be had in Atlanta, an influx of entrepreneurial-minded citizens was beginning to change the face of the community.
In 1846, a group of Atlanta citizens petitioned the Stale legislature to grant an official city charter that would incorporate the city and define the functions of its government. The request was not acted upon due, in large part, to the arguments of a lawyer representing a group of Atlantans who opposed the establishment of a city charter. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The following year, those who favored a free and rowdy Atlanta would be disappointed, as we will see in this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
Luckily they are all loyal people.