The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-20
This Believed Next Step To
Follow Big Headquarters.
Fifteen Rooms Are Needed for
Kansas Division Manager.
{. F. CARTER COMING HERE
He Will Be General Manager
for the Entire State.
No Changes Are To Be Made in
the Local Offices.

Effective October 1, division head
quarters of the Southwestern Bell
Telephone company for Kansas will
be established at Topeka, it was an
nounced today by E. d. Minis, first
vice president of the company, with
headquarters at st. Louis. This means
that the Southwestern's business in
Kansas will be under the supervision
of general manager in Topeka. This
announcement today, coupled with the
fact that last Janu~ry the Southwest
ern purchased the four lots adjoining
its present headquarters, S12-14 jack
son street, brings indications that the
company is planning extensive en-
lar gements of its interests in Topeka
to almost a reality.
Between twelve and fifteen large
office rooms will be necessary to house
the new general managers force
which will be brought here. Officials
of the company are in Topeka today
trying to locate temporary quarters.
Big New Building.
Those in close touch with the
Southwestern's interests in Kansas be-
lieve the company is planning the ma
teriaI enlargement of its present head
quarters building by erecting an ad-
dition, or possibly a new building,
costing several thousand dollars. on
the lots purchased last January. When
pany would be brought here.
The purchase of the lots 270-2-4-6,
adjoining the present building on the
south, was made from Harrison II.
Leavitt, Hattie Leavitt, his wife; Ora
Onott, Helen S. Leavitt and Leslie ID.
Leavitt, all heirs of the Leavitt estate.
An old brick residence, now vacant.
occupies the property.
Vive President Minis stated today
that the difficulties encountered by
= h. 4o1a In
tion of its property due to the unusual
demands made upon its organization
and the requirements which the COM
pany has to meet, both from the gov
ernment and the general public, cou-
pied with increased costs of rendering
service under the present conditions.
has made it imperative for the COM
pany to establish this direct and local
supervision.
An Advantage to Patrons.
Mr.. Minis also stated that with COM
mission regulation in the various
states, the company believes that this
plan of OrganiZat tiOn will prove advan-
tageous for the reason that the COM
mission will have near at hand the op-
Grating officials of the company's
property located within the commis-
sion's jurisdiction. The advantages of
the change with respect to the busi-
ness relations between the company
and its patrons are manifest and this
advantage has had considerable weight
in influencing the company to set up a
separate organization for Kansas.
E. F. Carter of the staff of Ben S.
Read, a second vice president, st.
| Louis, has been appointed general
manager for Kansas. Beyond this ap-
pointment the company's organization
! for Kansas has not yet been finally
| determined. Announcements regard
I ing it will be made later.
No change is to be made in the or
/ ganization of A. ]. Mackey, district
manager in Topeka The district or
| ganization here as well as these at
| Wichita and other large points in KAN
sas will be continued as at present.
! The only change is that they will re-
( port to headquarters at Topeka instead
! of Kansas City as formerly