The log cabin Democrat., 1907-07-18

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 than two hundred local phones.
 Other substantial improvements
 too numerous to note in detail
 have been made along this line.
 These facts will also suggest the
 principal need of our city, which
 is a complete system of waterworks and sewers. That the work of in- stalling this system will begin be- fore many months l do not doubt.
 It will be a big undertaking, but Conway is accustomed to big things, is capable of big things and is going to be big town.
 Financially the city has made marvellous progress during the de- cade. Ten years ago we had one bank, the capital of which was S25,oo Now we have two banks whose combined capital and sur plus exceed SI25, ,ooo. The re- ceipts at the local postofice have increased over fifty per cent, and we now lack but small per cent of making ours a second-class post office and of enjoying free mail de- livery in the city. And while the office is denominated third class under the government classified tion, everyone will admit that it is frst-class, both in its fixtures and appointments and in the efficiency of those in charge. Our cotton re- ceipts have increased until during the present season 2I, ,ooo bales have been bought here, a larger number than at any town in the state except at compress points. Salaries and wages have been greatly increased. In fact, Con- way has more than kept pace in every way with the general era of prosperity in the country.
 But it is undoubtedly along edu- cational lines that the greatest ad- vancement has been made. Along in the latter nineties Hendrix Col lege was in desperate straits. The institution was overwhelmingly in debt, it's enrolment was small, its faculty poorly paid when paid at all and its support weak and fal- tering. All of these obstacles have been rolled away and Hen- drix is now entering upon bril- liant future. The faculty has been enlarged and their salaries increased, the buildings and cam pus greatly improved, and, through the instrumentality of Dr. James Thomas, the foundation for a great endowment has been laid. Central College, then a building of bare rooms, is now one of the best equipped female colleges in the state. Steam heat and water works have been installed and the entire building handsomely fur nished. The attendance at this college, as we'll as at Hendrix, has also shown a marked increase. Our public school has been raised from a country grammar school to a splendid graded high school, capable of preparing pupils to en- ter the sophomore class at any college. Its enrolment has been nearly doubled, the buildings and equipment enlarged and the board of directors is now planning a splendid new brick building. This increased interest in education has not been without its effect upon the people, even those who have never attended any Conway school In fact, I believe this should be regarded as one of the chief advan tages of living in college town. Uncouth English, such as is com mon to the illiterate, is seldom heard here. The higher things Of life appeal more strongly to our people. I once heard a brilliant young minister say, and l think Bro. Hurt agrees with him, that 1t takes better grade of preaching to reach a Conway congregation than is the case at the ordinary town of its size.
 Finally and greatest of all, Con- way has made great progress along moral lines. There has been notable decrease in lawlessness, not only in the city, but through out the county. Our criminal docket occupies scarcely half the time in our circuit court that 1t did ten years ago. Our churches have grown stronger and more az gressive in their great cause. A handsome ten-thousand dollar edi flee has been erected by the Meth odist church, the Baptist church has been enlarged and improved at q cost of several thousand dol