The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-04-18
PHONE COMP ANY TO
SPEND 5 MILLIONS
IMPROVEMENTS IN STATE
VAST SUM TO BE USED IN I'M
PROVING AND EXTENDING
ARKANSAS SERVICE.
From Fridays Daily.

from Fr1d9yS Daily
That there is still hope for the bad
ly-needed improvements in the Con-
way telephone system to be undertake
en- by its new owners, the Southwest
ern company is seen in an interview
given out at Little Rock yesterday by
+. S. Bloom, second vice-president
of the system, who states that five
million dollars will be expended in Ar
kansas within the next three years, in
improving and extending the esrvce
in this state. The telephone lines in
this city are in bad state of repair,
most of the poles being rotten and
wires sagging in many places. For
several months officials of the COM
pany have been promising that these
conditions would be remedied at an
early date, and it is hoped that the
visit of Mr.. Bloom to the state means
that the work will be undertaken with
little further delay. Mr.. Blooms in
terview, which appears in todays Ga
zette, is as follows:
Il am just completing a general in
spection of the entire telephone prop
erty through the southwest" said Mr.
Bloom last night, land in view of the
dpld ICdoc III "CdICl anu POpuld-
ton throughout this section, large ex-
penditures will be required during the
current year for additions and care
for new business and for improve
ments which will result in the better
ment of the service. This is particu-
larly true of Arkansas, in view of it's
rapid increase in wealth and popula-
ton and the general awakening which
is so noticeable throughout the state
We are fully alive to the possibilities
in this state.
"The American Telephone and Tel
egraph Company, which is the parent
company in general direction of the
entire system throughout the United
States, has a large force of experts
who are constantly studying all
phases of the telephone problem, with
viey of adopting every invention Or
improvement which will in any way
increase the permanency of the SER
vice or make it more valuable to sub
scribers and the public generally.
GAS result of a general review of
the situation here in Arkansas in con-
ference with General Superintendent
Stimson and other officials in charge
o Arkansas, | have reason to believe
that it will require an expenditure of
at least $5,000,000 during the next
three years to care for the increasing
demands for service and improve
ments throughout the state. Of
course, we realize that the present
flood conditions are not particularly
helpful to an optimistic view of the
situation, but this is restricted to a
comparatively small area and the
furnishing condition of the state as a
whole, which is clearly indicated by
the hearty response which was given
sufferers, is only one of many indica-
tions of the general wealth and pros
perity of the state and the bright flu
ture outlook.
"The United States has been divid-
ed into eight grand divisions for gen.
eral administrative purposes in con-
nection with the operation of the Bell
Telephone System, the Southwestern
group of Bell companies operating
throughout the states of Missouri,
Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and
Texas, being one of the eight grand
divisions. These states cover an area
of $4,000 square miles or more than
one-sixth of the entire United States,
and in this area there is population
of approximately 100000, or about
one-seventh of the total population of
the United States. The Southwestern
group of Bell companies, operate ap-
proximately 100000 telephone sta
tions in this section, which, with the
extensive toll line systems represents
an investment of upward of S70,000,-
90, not including the investment of
the connecting companies"