The log cabin Democrat., 1914-05-16
CONWAY'S GROWTH IN PAST / YEARS BOARD OF TRADE FOLDER ISSUED IN 1907 NOW ANTIOUA- TED AND ALMOST A
 CURIOSITY.

A little folder issued by the Board Of Trade in July, 1907, giving a flew facts about Conway, was brought to the attention of The Log Cabin Dem crat the other day. In the short time of seven years this folder has become so antiquated as to be almost a curi- osity today, and an examination of it gives striking evidence of the remark able growth and development of the little city during that period.
 In the list of things that Conway I Has one notices at once an increase or betterment of 50 per cent or more during the seven years. For instance. the Board of Trade boasted of two banks-there are now three, with combined resources probably three times as great as those of the two In 1907. Shipments of cotton were given at Fl 900 bales-in 1914 they will reach 31 ,000 bales. Ten miles Of concrete sidewalks were claimed there are now at least 25 miles. The cltys population was given at 5000 "a considerable overestimate, as the census three later showed but 2,794; but now everyone would concede that Conway has at least 4,000 inhabit- antS.
 Along educational lines the city made it's greatest development. The Arkansas State Normal one of the strongest and most largely attended institutions in the state, now located here, was then only dream of the future. During the seven years, Hen dirk College has secured her $500 900 endowment and placed herself among the leading colleges of the south. Central College has been wonderfully strengthened and improved and one who had not seen that institution since 1907 would hardly recognize it today. A S4O,0O0 public public school building has been erected and the school attendance nearly doubled. It would be difficult to enumerate the many achievements and acuuisi- tions of Conway in the seven years since the little folder was published. Among them may be noted the water works system, with 20 miles of mains, supplying the best service and the best water to be had in town of this size in the state. Operated in con- nected with it and both being owned (by the city is the electric light and power plant, recently enlarged to double its former capacity and sup plying 24-hour service The sewer age system, with Is miles of mains, is just being put into service. The contract for paving the business streets has been let A $50,O0O com press, with a payroll of nearly $15,- 900 per year, has been installed. One l2-ton ice plant has been put in oper- ation within the time and another one of equal capacity is now being built, A good steam laundry has been installed and is in operation.
 More than 300 residences and busi- ness buildings have been erected, and vast amount expended for plumb ing, wiring and other improvements. The telephone system has been com pletely remodeled An elegant new passenger station has been erected and freight facilities also greatly i'm proved, A successful county fair has been held annually for the past five years.
 Two large wholesale houses have begun business here since 1907, and the volume of business done by retail merchants is undoubtedly twice as great as it was at that time. Nearly all of the stores have been enlarged, | Improved and modernized, while many new houses have begun business.
 In 1907 Conway was a postofiice Of the third class. Since that time it has been raised to the second class and free city delivery of mail inaugu- rated, The rural route service has also been greatly extended and im- proved throughout the county.
 The growth of the churches is seen in the erection of a $40, 900 house of worship by the Baptist denomination and the beginning of work on a $60,- 900 edifice by the M E. church, south, south, at Conway,
 During the seven years Conway has also become a publishing center of considerable importance. The Arkan- sas Teacher the leading educational journal of the state, with a circula- tion averaging about 4,000 per month, is edited and printed at Conway
 The A. O. U. w. Guide, the official organ of that fraternity in Arkansas, is now published in this city, In 1907, the Hendrix College Mirror monthly, and the Central College Magazine, quarterly, were the only student publications. The Mirror has been continued and enlarged, the Gen. tral Magazine has been changed to