The Mena star., 1898-09-14

Leaving the depot it is noticed the
streets are nicely graded, the stores
and business houses wear an air Oh
activity, and in the place where tents
and sheds short time before sheltered
the goods of the merchants, buildings
of brick have arisen. All indications
point to a good future for the business
interests and many of the citizens are
planning many improvements. An
other item of value is the fact that not
an empty business room is seen in the
town.
Then arises the query where are
the homes of these people? Comfort
able hotels are noticed, but as yet few
residences. And the question can only
be answered by trip around through
the shaded streets for a mile or more
on either side of the business center,
especially on the elevated plateau
northwest of Janssen park and on the
ridge to the south surrounding Still
we'll park. Then are seen the pleasant
houses and cottages, lawns decorated
with flowers. and frequently luxuriant
gardens near by. The people look as
though life was Il pleasure, and the
children wear the look of health that
comes of plenty of room and fresh pure
air.
Off to the northeast of the business
center rises sharply wood-covered
hill, a spur OF Rich mountain. A wind
ing roadway has been graded to the
top nearest the city, and here a tine
large college building is in course of
construction, at an elevation of about
100 feet above the TOWNSHIP A more
attractive location would be hard to
imagine. standing out in bold relief in
tull view of all the city The view
from this point is well worth the ride
up the hill, giving as it does a birds
eye view of the city below.
Near where the col!roe is to be, is a
nice cottage, built by one Of MeHa's
business men. 1t is happy location,
and is but pioneer of the many such
that this overlooking hill is SO well
fitted for. though when the city was
in its early stage OF existence this was
considered away out in the woods and
not thought of as suitable place for
homes
IN the last few months Mena has been
chosen as the county seat of Polk
county, in the place of the old town of
Dallas, which held that honor many
years. and new court house will soon
be built A pleasing feature of this
change was the almost unanimous de
sire for the change, as shown by the
votes of the people.
Large enterprises are preparing to
make Mena their headquarters. Elk
tensive lumber mills are in operation
and new ones being built-one build
ing covering half block and an en-
tire block for the yards-taking the
rough lumber from the saw mills in
the country and turning it out a
finished product for the market.
New brick yards are being start
ed and stone quarries opened to
supply the increasing demand for
building material and an air of pros
porous stability prevails.
The citizens are working quietly but
steady to bring out diverse resources
of the country. Plans are being de-
ve)oped on every hand and in every
thing from improving and increasing
the character of the agricultural pro
ducts by fair association to the
fields of mining and quarryIng; also
the building of another railroad
from the metropolis of Western Ar
kansas to Hot Springs.
Though but two years old Mena is
already a city OF the second class nm
der the laws of the state and gives
promise of steady growth and popu-
lation of ten thousand people in the
near future. V. w. ST.. john.