The log cabin Democrat., 1913-12-18

resulted made the people of Conway feel that no telephone service at all would be better than to bother with an automatic system. After a trial lasting one year, it was decided to dis continue the automatic exchange.
 "The leading citizens of Conway, headed by Profs. Burr and Millar, were not discouraged by their expe- rience with the automatic system. They knew that practicable tele- phone exchange would be of great ad- vantage in handling the commercial affairs of Conway. They knew that the automatic system, would not an- swer their purpose, and they decided to make further experiments. The in- terest of the business men of Conway in this movement was aroused, and as a result of close cooperation a mag neto telephone exchange was finally selected to fill the telephone require ments of Conway. This exchange was installed in the building. now occupied by c. H. Nelson's drug store, at Front and North streets. F. A. Bayless, jeweler, occupied the exchange build ing. and in addition to caring for his business, operated the exchange 'un- til girl operators could be secured.
 "Mr. Bayless was loyal to bis trust, and gave Conway continuous tele- phone service-24 hours every day. His sleeping quarters adjoined the telephone exchange, a bell awakening him when a subscriber desired to make a call during the night.
 "The new exchange soon gave sat isfacto1y service and thereby estab- lished itself fixture in Conway. Prof. Burr became manager and organized his working force on systematic basis. Miss Ora Smith was appoint ed day operator F. D. Hicks was en- gagged as night operator and Robert Smith was given the position of line man. Prof. Burr continued as man. ager until 1901, when G. w. Sammons succeeded him. Mir. Sammons still re- tains his position as manager of the Conway telephone exchange.
 'Late in 1901 the Conway telephone system was purchased by Mrs. F. E. Perminter and L. H. Pyle, cashier of the Bank of Conway. The new own CTS moved the exchange to the build ing now occupied by the White Drug Co.,. where it remained until the sum- mer of 1913, when new quarters were established in the Donaghey building. MT. Pyle acquired the holdings of Mrs. Perminter, thereby assuming full own- ership of the property. He later sold the plant to J. A. Frisby of Morrilton, Ark. Believing he had disposed of a valuable asset, MT. Pyle purchased the property from Mir. Frisby and con tinued to operate it until 1911, when nrS sold out to the North Arkansas Telephone Go. This company operat- ed the plant for few months, and sold 1t to it's present owners, the Southwestern Telegraph and Tele- phone Co. "
 "Col. Robinson, by installing his me- chanical telephone, rendered his com munity an unmistakable service. He was a telephone pioneer. He did much to demonstrate the utility of the tele- phone, and by removing the obstacle in the path of telephone development in the early days, may be credited Tn a large measure for the present excel lency of the service furnished in Con- way.
 After acquiring the Conway eX- change, the Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Go. determined to give
 Conway the best possible telephone service. To this end it secured new quarters for the central office and in- stalled a modern switchboard of the type used in metropolitan cities. Iron wires throughout the city were re placed by copper circuits, and 500 new
 poles were installed.
 "In reconstructing the telephone system an ample reserve plant was installed to meet the demands for tele7 nhora caYvice which will follow Con- ways steady increase in population.
 Conway is growing rapidly and
 within 6 few years it's population should at least be 50 per cent greater than it is today.
 Conway telephone subscribers re- ceive all the advantages from the teie-
 phone to be had in metropolitan cities. sr Cnryyou p0nnaPfc