The log cabin Democrat., 1907-07-18
TEN YEARS AGO AND NOW
Review of Conway's Progress
 During Past Decade.

At the request of Rev. J. J Hur and one or two others we publish below an imperfect review o Conway progress during the past ten years, read by the editor of this paper at the mems meeting at the Baptist church Sunday after
 noon:
 When Bro. Hurt assigned me tc the subject, Ten Years Ago anc Now" I at first was inclined tc regard it as one of rather meagre possibilities and suggested that he change it to Twenty Years Ago and Now" and secure some of the older citizens to treat 1t. But il any of you have been able to dis cover a system by which you can get around one of Bro. Hurts po- lite requests, I would certainly be glad to learn it. 1 am sure 1t is not one of you whom he has solic- ited for a subscription for the state normal.
 But after thinking over the prop osition and remembering that only ten or perhaps a dozen years ago I as barefoot boy was picking wild blackberries and chasing rabbits in the woods and prai- ries where are now located the beautiful homes of Col. Bruce, MT. Hartley, MT. Isgrig and many others, I have realized that the progress of Conway during the past decade has been no less than phenomenal, and that 1t is sub ject which ought to invite the elo- quence of any speaker. l have therefore, without time for a thorough investigation, jotted down a few of the many points along which our little city has ad- vanced.
 It was about ten years ago that Hon. o. C. Ludwig, now our effl- cient secretary of state, was con- ducting a little newspaper here, and the motto of that paper was Watch Conway Grow" That motto was scattered everywhere throughout the columns of the paper. If citizen built house or barn or even whitewashed his fence, a mention was made of the improvement, invariably followed by the line, Watch Conway Grow" and on one occasion that I remember the wicked printer in- serted this motto at the conclusion of write-up of local couples s wedding.
 "Conway's Growth, y then, is only way in which one could treat the subject which has been given me. And the first point of which l would speak is Conway's physi- cal growth. During the past ten years the population of our city has increased by at least one-halt. Ten years ago I think there was not a residence between Central College and the railroad and for half mile north and south, and this large tract of land was known as Robinson's pasture. It is now known as the Davies & Garvin annex and there have been proba- bly, not less than seventy-tive new houses built on it, the lots into which it was divided having ln- creased more than ten-told lu val ue since they were sold. This IS only one of several new additions opened on the outskirts of town, and the growth in the center has kept pace with that of the suburbs. Hundreds of cottages, numerous magnificent homes and more than a score of substantial brick busl- ness houses have been built.
 This physical growth has mani tested itself in progress along sev- eral other lines. Take municipal improvements, for instance-the things that distinguish the town from the country. l do not De- lieve it can successfully be contra dicted if I assert that Conway has more miles of graded streets and of cement and stone sidewalks than any town of its size in the state. The majority of this work has been done during the past ten years. Before its close we will have laid during the present year no less than eight miles of fine new side walks. Ten years ago our electric light plant had just been installed under private ownership and was unable to earn anything for Its stockholders. Since then 1t has been secured by the city under the improvement district plan and its | h,c;pecS has heau orOwinp faster