The Mena weekly star., 1898-02-16
THIS oLD-NEw COUNTRY.


 We cheerfully welcome all who come to this old new country, old in the fact that years long gone by, the venturesome pioneer came and select hls tract of land and made clear ing near some ripping stream or spring Of water, built his cabin, planted a few vines and fruit trees, and with rifle in hand supplied his table with fresh bear meat. venison and turkey. Thus he lived and as the years rolled by he gathered the grapes and pressed out his wine, smoked his pipe filled with his home grown tobacco, and possibly drank the product of the moonshine still He watched his herds roaming unmoested upon unlimited range, fatten upon the green grass and dropping mast, hood and picked his cotton, while his good wife carded, spun and wove and made it into garments for their comfort and protection. Content with his sur roundings, he cared little how the wide world wagged without The forests around him were uumolested and there was none who cared to say 'woodman spare that tree" The stately pine at times shook it's shaggy head as If torn by angry passion when the winds hurled their fierce force against them, and again nodded in gentle rythmic time in response to gentle breezes that told more of kind ness than of anger, and still again appeared to rest in peaceful slumber when with the setting of the sun, the aroma from the cones and green leaves would fill all space undisturbed by breath of air; all this in a country where poets might dream, commune with nature and their God.
 Yes, we welcome them to this old new country. New in the fact that when the first locomotive engine on the great Port Arthur Route climbed its weary way tv the summit at Eagle Gap, and sent it's shrill whistle out. over the hill tops and valleys of Polk county. it brought new life to many living here and brought many others with energy and capital to build an empire where before had been almost a wilderness. The lum berman's ax and saw have laid low the stately pine and sturdy oak and saw and blaming mills are making music by day and by night, preparing lumber to fill the heavily laden freight trains moving toward the plains and praries of the great Northwest. New farms are being cleared and new orchards and vineyards being planted while new cottages, school houses and churches dot the hill sides and valleys. Flocks of the best strains of poultry and best grades of sheep, hogs and cattle are being started and wonderful inspira- ton has been given the people to till the soil in a systematic manner and produce more of the good things for export that this old-new country is capable of producing.
 Hand in hand with these improve ments the city of Mena has been built upon land where for fifty years lone log house stood near spring. cotton and corn grew and the "Arkansaw razor back" roamed at will And here is destined to be the commercial me tropolis of Western Arkansas. The products of large area of territory surrounding must seek market and in turn needed supplies will be sought here.
 And thus as the people come from all portions of the great world to establish productive and business en- terprises and become citizens, having voice in the conduct of public affairs, the old will be merged into the new and il history, story and tradition will live the struggles, the peaceful lives and conquests of those who sought homes here in the early days-the early days of Western Arkansas and of Mena.