Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2820 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS& Trust Company consolidated its deposit business with the Atlanta Trust& Banking Company, and the deposit business of the new combination waslater merged into the Third National Bank of Atlanta, which has grown tobe one' of the strongest monetary institutions of the entire South. Mr.Atkinson became vice president of the Third National Bank, an office whichhe held until 1909, when he resigned because of the press- of his other interestsand the consequent added demands upon his time. He still, however, retainsa directorship in the Third National Bank.The trust business of the Southern Banking & Trust Company wascontinued by Mr. Atkinson in connection with a land title business underthe amended name of Title Guarantee & Trust Company, of which latterventure Mr. Atkinson also became president. In connection with this company he succeeded in bringing much Eastern capital to Atlanta and theSouth for financing Southern enterprises, notable among which at Atlantaare the Empire Building, which he financed and built, and the Century orAtlanta National Bank Building, which he aided largely in financing, andnumerous others.When Mr. Atkinson came to Atlanta, the city's streets were lightedwith gas and oil lamps, and its street cars were propelled by horse and mulepower, electricity for street lighting purposes being an unknown quantityat that time in Atlanta. Mr. Atkinson, realizing the urgest need of the cityfor a more modern and efficient lighting system, and believing in the wonderful possibilities of electricity as an illuminating agent, as well as a meansfor the transmission of mechanical energy, saw the opportunity for the development of a successful light and power business in Atlanta, and in 1891, inaddition to his loan and banking business, organized the Georgia ElectricLight Company, of which he became president. In this way, Mr. Atkinsonrendered valuable service to Atlanta by placing the city in the front rankof those using electricity for lighting as well as for power purposes, especially as it was only shortly after this that the great Cotton States andInternational Exposition was held in Atlanta (1895) and the thousands ofvisitors to that exposition were deeply impressed by the city's electricallylighted streets and buildings. Mr. Atkinson was a director, a member ofthe finance committee and chief electrician of that exposition.After getting the electric light business thoroughly under way and insuccessful operation, Mr. Atkinson saw that there was opportunity for development in Atlanta's street railway facilities and availed himself of thisopportunity by acquiring and improving some of the lines already inexistence and constructing new lines, which he consolidated under'the nameof Atlanta Rapid Transit Company. Later, through Mr. Atkinson's efforts,all the street railways and electric light and power interests were (1902)consolidated under the name of Georgia Railway & Electric Company, withMr. Atkinson as chairman of the board of directors. The Georgia Railway& Electric Light Company acquired the Atlanta Gas Light Company andthe Atlanta Steam Heat Company. Under Mr. Atkinson's direction themileage of the Georgia Railway & Electric Company increased from 138.39miles, in 1903, to 198.79 miles, in 1913, an increase of sixty miles in tenyears, or an average of six miles each year, exclusive