The rapidity of the growth of Atlanta is illustrated by the fact that, since it was blotted from the map, the city has spread over twelve square miles of ground. Starting with no business in 1865, it received in 1903 four-tenths of the freight delivered in Georgia, and its post office receipts were four-tenths of those of the State. Thirty-nine years ago there was hardly a dollar to turn a trade; within the year just closed the bank clearings aggregated $115,000,000. At the beginning of this period there were only a few stragglers remaining in the wake of fire and sword. To-day there is a great city of over 105,000 people, the business headquarters of 125,000, with a floating population of many thousands more. From bare ground covered with ashes and ruins in 1865, the city has been built up to a value of $59,595,332, consisting largely of solid masses of brick and mortar, stone and steel, which go to make up a magnificent array of handsome business edifices. The number of houses has increased from 300 to 22,600. [Illustration: STATE CAPITOL.] The question, wherefore Atlanta? naturally arises, for communities are not effects without causes. Atlanta is the result of a combination of advantages, on a commanding geographical location, turned to the best account by a spirit of transcendent energy, which surmounts all obstacles and builds even on disaster the fabric of success. The growth of this unconquerable spirit has been promoted by a unity of purpose which has prevented the domination of factions. Whatever local interests may clash, the good of Atlanta is always a rallying cry. The Atlanta spirit, which has accomplished so much in the upbuilding of the city itself, is happily contagious, and has much to do with making Georgia the Empire State of the South. The spirit of new life has spread from this to other Southern States which are the most active in the development of their resources, and the spirit of the Southeast is the spirit of Atlanta. For this moral and material eminence Atlanta is fortunately situated on a ridge which divides the watershed of the Atlantic from that of the Gulf, and at a point where the natural barrier of the Appalachian chain is broken by great gaps in the mountains. This is the natural point of intersection for railway lines from the West with lines from the East.