The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-02
TELEPHONE REORGANIZATION
L. *. Cole Is appointed Commercial
AGENT Other Officers and Changes.

Agent--Other Onicers and Changes.
Yesterday complete change took place
in the official organization of the
Wichita exchange of the Kansas and
Missouri Telephone company. Owing to
greatly increased business the past year
it has been found necessary TO separate
the strictly commercial management from
the mechanical and scientific part, there
by establishing two entirely distinct de-
partments under separate officers, where
heretofore it had been carried on by only
one.
The most important feature Of the new
regime was appointment in Kansas City
on Friday last of L. r. Cole of this city
as commercial agent at this point, there
by placing him in full charge of all the
business of this Office, commercial, execu-
tive and all subscribers matters. For
some time this change was contemplated
and District Manager L. T. Duggan, who
has been heroically attempting to attend
to several mems duties, now feels greatly
relieved that ''the right man for the right
place has been found" as he puts it, to
take from his the arduous and steadily
increasing business of the Wichita Of
flee. Except where his signature appears
on legal documents and realty instru-
ments of transfer, no one scarcely re-
members Mr.. L. r. Cole by those initials,
but for the last fifteen years he is known
TO everyone in this city and in all lines
of business. industry, finance and the
citys polity, as plain vic" Vic Cole
was one of the early arrivals here prior
to the boom and amassed a fortune be-
Al
ested in large land and city realty com
panies. Close in touch with all the bust
ness affairs of the city, of pleasing ad-
dress. genial warm hearted temperament,
and possessed of untiring energy and Wig
orous executive ability, he will at once
give to his new duties all the best and
most conscientious service, and that, too,
at a time when the growing business of
the telephone exchange demands Just
that sort of timber. He took charge
on April I. This new department viii be
separate from the operating department,
which will be in charge of Mr. Herbert
Findley of Kansas City, who viii be as
signed here as chief electrician and in
spector for this city Mr.. VIM. Pedigo
viii be made foreman of construction,
while District Manager Duggan, with
headquarters here, will have general sup
ervision over all. Mr.. L. F. Duggan came
to this city in January. 1897, and found
the situation anything but inviting, but
with tireless efforts and constant study
Of the needs and requirements has
brought the service up TO degree of eff
fciency never before enjoyed by the sub.
scribers Within the past year his valu
able services were appreciated 20 the ex-
tent OF promotion to the responsible po-
sition Of district manager for the terri
tory extending from Usage City south tc
Perry on the Santa Fe. and TO Enid on
the Rock Island. With the resignation Of
Mr. Meredith the cares Of the local Office
fell upon the young but willing shoulders
OF the able manager. added to the already
sufficiently massive affairs Of the whole
district. The local exchange was never
in such fouishing condition. When the
last new phone was placed late yesterday
afternoon It made just thirty for the
month Of March. an average Of one q
day There were eighty-two new ones
placed in January and both these months
are expected 10 be light ones. ana the net
total so far this year since January has
been 49, This week Superintendent Chas.
w. Mechanics viii arrive from Kansas
City TO lay out new work in prospect and
arrange for extensive additions and i'm
provements. among them being sub
exchange established in the north part
Of the city. to meet the growing require
ments from that quarter. NJ. J. C Tau
pert. chit cable man. also from Kansas
City VIII arrive in a few days for the
purpose Of connecting more cables and
lay cut new work On Monday morning
a large force Of vorkmen VIII Re placed
al work 60 build the lire connecting Ben
ton with Wichita and already material
has been unloaded for a 1inetv-mile lire
from Wellington and Hsrper u Medicine
Lodge and Ava This circuit VII mean
practically rebuilding the whole lire to
take il other western points. Belvidere.
sun City and others
The whole district IS in aourishing cor
dition and viii be increased right along
The city council Of Ponca City recently
granted a franchise 70 come IN there
with AT exchange.
II is noted that under the naw regime
the title of the head Official AZ this point
is changed from manager to ccumerclai
agent 70 prevent confusion Heretofore
one man has attended q az the Affairs
Of the Office. both business ard n The ex-
pert electricIaus work But ROW the
manager known as such VII be the as
srset oflciAI. Alr. DugE&ns With TIE KS