The Mena weekly star., 1896-09-23
MENA AS 1T IS SEEN TO DAY.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWNSHIP
 AND SURROUNDINGS.
Good Hotel Accommodations for All Visitors Business Houses and Residences The Suburbs
 and the Roadways.

For the benefit Of inquirers from abroad brief description of our town site, city and country immediately surrounding is here given.
 The business portion ot Mena lies in what has recently been cultivated farm. The surface is sufficiently undu- lating to insure good drainage, slop- ing to the east The best residence part of the city lies to the west and is all in good timber, which will make our homes not only shaded but cool and pretty. At 8 somewhat greater distance from the business center and especially to the north of the city are some very picturesque building sites, from which the city aud valley can be overlooked About two miles north west rises the Rich mountain, the highest and most noted in the state and of which much has been written.
 Northeast of the city is about six miles distance is the Fouche Isafave mountain, which is also well known and extends from the Washita river over into the Indian Territory. Thus it will be seen that Mena is so situated that it is thoroughly protected from the cold winds and blizzards of the north, insuring great freedom from the intense cold of the plains and prai- ries of other places The Dallas and Potter mountains are three or four miles southeast and sixteen miles south are the Cross mountains. All the mountains and valleys between are covered with heavy timber, chiefly pine and the several varieties of oak. The water flows from the townsite in two directions, southwest to Rock creek, Wards creek and Little river, and ill northeasterly course to the Washita river.
 All the country around is well watered with fine springs of pure soft water, and in all cases where a well has been sunk from fifteen to thirty feet an abundance of the same has been found. An artesian we'll is also being bored.
 Our principal streets are eighty feet in width and have been nicely graded and work of clearing and grading many others is progressing rapidly. The alleys are twenty feet wide Good sidewalks have been laid OF all the graded streets.
 The bulk of the business of the city is aowdone on Sherwood and Picker ing avenues near the depots, and on Mena and De Queene streets.
 As our city has been built in the greatest possible rush in scarcely a months time. it can readily be under. stood that buildings of brick and stone are not seen, and much business is yet done in tents. There is much talk of better business honses in the near future and the manufacture of fine brick now going on successfully will greatly assist Tn the good work.
 The great haste of all business men to get their stocks under cover has given little time for the building of residences, but as fast as these men see their stocks safely stored they are turning their attention to the con- structlon of residences and homes. and contractors now have much work of this kind on hand, and residence lots are selling with rapidity heretofoEe unknovn in Mena.
 Mena like ail new towns, has had it's time when accommodations were not only poor but very uncertain. For the benefit of all anticipating visit we can safely say that this time has gone by and that comfortable quarters and good fare can be had at a number of hotels and boarding houses. The rates in no case are exhorbitant
 Residences for rental purposes are being built rapidly and many such are in the hands of contractors, and as a rule will be of a very good class
 Business houses can now be had on short notice. there being several very nearly complete in first-class locations and at very reasonable rental, although there are none complete that are not occupied.
 Suburban acre tracts can be had at very reasonable figure and lands suitable for gardening and fruit grow ing are easy of access. The roads, while not in high order of perfection. are far from being bad and many or them are very good. Especially is this true of those leading to the south and west.
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