The Mena weekly star., 1897-03-03
DOWN THE ROAD TO JANssEN.
A New Country and New Town With
 Bright Prospects Ahead.


 few days ago a representative or the Star, in company with several others, took ride on the construction train down the line to Jansen and Hatton Gap. The road leads south from Mena through a picturesque section of country, winding along by by gentle curves through valleys and by the side of creeks with occas ionally deep cut through some rocky hillside where one sees demonstrated the costly work done in building the road, and realizes something of the obsta- cies it's projector had to overcome. De- casionally as we rounded curve or i'm merged from deep cut nice farms with thrifty orchards and comfortable buildings would greet the eye, showing what had been done in other days prior to the advent of the railroad, and giving at the same time pro phetic idea, as it were, of what the country would be and, look like, when other stretches of valley lands, hill- sides and table lands were cleared and planted to farm crops, small fruits and orchards now that the markets of the world have been opened for these pro- ducts by the building of this great railway from the ice bound north to the sunny and fruitful south by the gulf and sea.
 At present stately pines and other valuable tim ber covers the tillable lands as well as the rock ribbed hills, and at various points along the line huge piles of walnut logs and cedar, ready for shipment to Europe, are to be seen. also large quantities of pile timbers for building approaches to bridges and roads across swamps as well as millions of feet of fine lumber turned out by the saw mills, all bring ing cash to the owners and showing that the lands are being gradually cleared for other products
 Twenty two miles from Mena the train makes a long halt at Jansen, the new town now attracting some little attention as the next town south of Mena on the Port Arthur route and in this county. Here is also pretty place for town, the site being high ana rolling and the streets regularly 1ntI nla .0f company Is building neat little frame depot here and it is understood that ii will also build hotel in the near future. A few business houses have been erected and two mercantile stores are open for business with in- dications that others will be built soon, also that saw mill will be in operation Tn short time.
 One point of interest connected with Jansen is its close proximaty to Hat ton, town attempted to be built near the gap in the mountains bearing that name, and where the road passes. it being only two miles distant and of course rival, if town can be called a rival that, though on the road, has no station and is not to have any. Hatton has hundred O. more houses and business places, few built many years ago. all built in hap-hazzard way along COW path or to conform to the contour of the hillside and the curve of the railroad instead of any laid out streets, yet the people realize that without station, and one al Janssen two miles away, She name ot the town has been changed from Hat ton to Dennis"
 That nice little town will be bull, at Jansen to supply the requirement. of the country surrounding and being opened up no one doubts, and yet al admit that the logical location for 2 town, other things being equal, was at Hatton's gap, it being She only point for many miles in either direc. tion that wagon road or a railroad could be built or people pass through a long range of mountains. As it if the road is having hard task to cut its way through to a proper grade the job not being com pleted yet, 2 track having been laid up oyer and around the cut for temporary use and to carry material to the front.