The Mena weekly star., 1898-01-26
SITUATION AS VIEWED BY OTHERS.
The Building of the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf Railroad Through the Western Portion
 Opens an Empire for Settlement.

markets of the world through Port Arthur and the gulf.
 This country, with all it's varied 1 richness of natural products and splendid climate has been known by many and enjoyed by few, who, ill the favored places in rich valleys along rapid running streams, have planted such crops as they could utilize and permit ted their herds to roam at will over the tablelands and hills, eat ing the succulent grass, champing the meaty mast and slaking their thirst at the springs and rivulets of pure, soft water flowing freely and constantly on every hand.
 For many years few were the changes that came to mar the mid-sumnier dreams of these peo- pie, but now all IS changed and rapidly changing. When the whistle of the first locomotive sent its shrill echoes reverberat- ing over the hills and through the valleys of Polk county as 1t plunged through Eagle Gap at the foot of Rich Mountain, LOGO feet above sea level and rolled down toward the new division point at Mena, 1t stirred new life and brought new energy into this portion of Western Arkansas.
 It was the lack of railroads that caused this part of the state to lie dormant so long and, as during the year 1897, from this time forward 1t will continue to grow and develop until 1t shall be known as one of the fairest | and most prosperous sections of country in all the great West.
 A writer, NJ. l.. De Malher, in the Arkansas Gazette says of the | state and its future prospects,:
 ''Two-thirds of the state is not | yet developed, and the other third [ is only made to do half of what ! 1t is capable of performing. This | means that only one-third of the state has been drawn upon in the { growth of its wealth and popula- | tion; and in consequence, if the | ratio of development to follow but holds its own, at glance 1t ! is seen why on its material side ! Arkansas aspires to rank among the first states of the Union. Rec ognizing its opportunity 1t also recognizes the necessity of put ting the thing to a test.
 ''It has done so in the welcome of capital by means of princely gifts insuring investors for a period of years against default or interest. It has done so by legis- lative enactment the terms of which are freer and more liberal than known in the legislative history of any other state of the Union. It has done so Ill wider and longer continued free adver- tisement of enterprises 1t has ir- vited, than 1t has done for those that belong to it. It is doing so in voluntary cooperation with all who have accepted the terms of it's invitation. And, altogether, 1t IS shown in a readiness to re- peat it's gifts and labors for others who may follow the lead of those already made the benefi- ciaries of its enterprises and mu- nificence.
 "There is not much noise on the surface, but 1t IS only the calm that precedes storm of en- thusiasm sometimes let loose up on the world of capital and popu- lation i'll the history of the trans Mississippi.
 'It will be different from all other rushes of improvement in the South, not excepting those of